PROPERTIES OF IMPORTED TROPICAL WOODS
1_
By
B. FRANCIS KUKACHKA, Botanist
Forest Products Laboratory,2
Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
INTRODUCTION
The descriptive text and tabular data compiled
here have been drawn freely from a wide variety
of sources, but special credit is due the publications of the British Forest Products Research
Laboratory and those of the Yale University School
of Forestry.
Species descriptions are arranged alphabetically by generic names. The generic name may be
followed by a specific name when the latter is
the sole or principal name used in the timber
trade. When a number of species are involved
and it is generally not practical to identify the
precise species from the wood alone, the generic
name is followed by the designation spp.
With well-established species only a single
common name has been applied, even though it
may have many local or vernacular names,
particularly if the species has widespread distribution. Where two or three names are indicated,
they usually refer to the name in use in the
several areas of principal production. Common
names which are inappropriately applied and are
generally misleading have been avoided as much
as possible. The use of generic common names
1
such as birch and teak in connection with totally
unrelated species is bad practice and only adds
to already existing confusion of names in the woodusing industry.
The pair of capital letters after the species
name serves as a quick reference to the broad
area of origin as AF (Africa), AM (Latin America),
and AS (Southeast Asia).
An index of common names with their botanical
equivalents is included at the end of this
report.
The average weight of the woods described is
given in pounds per cubic foot and at a moisture
content of 12 percent, unless otherwise indicated.
The term “texture” refers only to the diameter
of the pores.
Kiln schedules for foreign woods are given in
British Forest Products Research Laboratory
Leaflet No. 42, “Kiln-Drying Schedules,” revised
1959. The schedules differ somewhat from those
in Chapter 8 of “Dry-Kiln Operator’s Manual,”
Agriculture Handbook 188 (1961). Table 1 (at end
of report) lists the British schedule recommendations for 4/4 to 6/4 lumber, the nearest U.S.
Presented at the Conference on Tropical Hardwoods held at the
State University College of Forestry, Syracuse University,
August 18-21, 1969.
2
The Laboratory is maintained at Madison, Wisconsin, in cooperation
with the University of Wisconsin.
schedule from the Dry Kiln Operator’s Manual
for these same sizes, and a suggested U.S.
schedule for 8/4 stock.3
Statements relative to durability refer only to
heartwood and under conditions favorable to
deterioration. Sapwood is always nondurable under
exterior use conditions. Wood kept continuously
dry is not subject to attack by fungi although the
sapwood of certain species may be attacked by
powder-post beetles.
The term “in-service,” when mentioned, refers
to the shrinkage and swelling or “movement” of
wood that may occur under conditions of use. It
refers to interior use in the major part of the
United States and the values, when cited, apply to
unfinished wood. Finishes do not prevent “movement” but retard to varying degree the rate at
which moisture is lost or gained. The values
given in table 2 represent total shrinkage from
the green to the ovendry state and are based on
the dimensions when green. Such values have
limited application and do not indicate the degree
of “movement” that may occur between different
levels of relative humidity or the ratio of shrinkage
that occurs during different stages of drying. It
is unfortunate that so little “movement” data are
available with respect to the species in everyday
use.
The machining of wood perhaps presents more
problems than any phase of conversion from the
log to finished product.. Lumber that is straight
grained and free of all defects is, of course, the
ideal material to the machine operator. Problems
begin to mount when a user is confronted with
the necessity of machining species with which he
is totally unfamiliar. With respect to tropical
species he will be confronted with considerable
variation in density, degree of interlocking and
variable grain, silica content, and tension wood,
all of which can be very troublesome in species
of lower density. Interlocked grain is characteristic of the majority of tropical species and presents difficulty in the planing of quartered surfaces unless attention is paid to cutting angles and
sharpness of knives. Tension wood may account
for rough surfaces, which may be referred to as
fibrous, fuzzy, or torn. It is also frequently
responsible for the pinching effect on saws due
3
to stress relief in the lumber during sawing and
the resulting burning and dulling of the teeth
This particular difficulty is sometimes attributed
to the presence of silica, even when silica is not
present. Silica, when present, may have a pronounced dulling effect on all cutting edges and
this becomes more pronounced as the wood is
dried to the usual in-service requirements.
Strength values are given in table 3 for green
wood and in table 4 for seasoned wood. The
values are based on the ASTM or 2-inch standard.
The values published by the British Laboratory
in their Bulletin No. 50 are based on the 2-centimeter standard and are not directly comparable
with those based on the 2-inch standard. The
British values cited in tables 3 and 4 have been
converted to the 2-inch standard using the conversion factors recommended in their Bulletin
No. 50.
ALBIZIA FALCATARIA
Batai
This species, originally described from the
Molucca Islands, is now commonly found in
cultivation throughout the tropics of the world.
The tree has been utilized in Malaysia for the
afforestation of degraded and idle lands, and in
Central America it is replacing the silk-oak
(Grevillea ) and native species used for shade
trees in coffee plantations. This species has
shown remarkable growth in several plantations
on the islands of Kaual and Hawaii. Data presented here are based primarily on the timber
obtained from these Hawaiian plantations.
Synonyms of this species are A. moluccana and
A. falcata.
Heartwood and sapwood not clearly distingulshable in all trees; wood light colored with a very
pale brown, pinkish, or yellowish cast. Desch
reports the Malayan-grown wood with grain deeply
interlocked and spiral: the texture rather coarse
and even. The Hawaiian-grown material was
essentially straight-grained and, although interlocking was noted, it was rather shallow. The
wood weighs about 24 pounds per cubic foot.
American basswood (Tilia americana), of the
same average specific gravity as batai, exceeds
John McMillen of the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,
Wis., provided this abstract of Leaflet No. 42 and the U.S.
schedule suggestions. The British schedules may be purchased
from the British Information Service, 845 Third Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10022.
FPL 125
As
2
the latter in static bending and compression
Parallel to grain at the 12 percent moisture
content level; batai is slightly superior with
respect to side hardness and maximum shearing
strength.
In Malaya, batai is said to dry fairly rapidly
without serious degrade; the most common defect
observed was bowing. Lumber of 5/4 thickness
was air seasoned in 6 weeks and 4/4 material
was well dried in 4 weeks. None of the material
was reported to have developed any splits or
checks.
The wood is said to be abrasive to saws, but
because this species is not a silica accumulator,
the dulling effect can be attributed to the pinching
and resulting burning of the saw teeth as tension
stresses are relieved in the lumber. Wood in this
density class would require sharp knives to ensure
the production of smooth surfaces in planing. The
fine sawdust produced when machining the dry
wood is said to be responsible for allergic
responses in certain individuals. Responses noted
have been sneezing and tearing.
The wood is not durable under exterior conditions. It has been treated by the open-tank procedure and absorptions of 5 pounds of creosotediesel fuel mixture were obtained in Malayan
tests.
Because this species has some degree of
importance as an ornamental tree and in silvicultural practice, the lumber has been utilized
on a relatively small scale and only for local
purposes. Because of its rapid growth, it would
appear to have promise as a plantation species
for lumber and veneer purposes. For plantation
purposes it would be highly desirable to select
strains which are relatively straight grained,
since there appears to be considerable variation
in the species with respect to degree of interlocking grain. This species requires a more
thorough evaluation of its inherent tension stresses.
The Australian Laboratory reports the following potential problems in veneer production based
on four billets from the Solomon Islands: End
popping on crosscutting of logs; high output of
narrow veneer, woolliness of veneer surfaces
when the knife edge is blunt or poorly prepared;
buckling and splitting of veneer containing tension
wood; shortage of face veneer through end splits:
and bow distortion of plywood due to tension wood.
One billet contained brittleheart and two billets
contained a severe form of tension wood,
ALBIZIA LEBBEK
Kokko, Siris
AS
Albizia lebbek. which is native to India, Burma,
Pakistan, Malaya, and the Andaman Islands has
frequently and very erroneously been referred to
as “Indian walnut.” The names kokko and siris
are well established, well known, distinctive of
the species, and should be used consistently in
the U.S. trade.
Several other Indian species of Albizia occur
within the range of Albizia lebbek and are difficult
to distinguish because they intergrade in color
and are very similar in anatomical structure. It
is very possible that the wood reaching U.S.
markets may be the product of two or three
species.
The sapwood is white or yellowish-white and
wide; heartwood light to dark brown and frequently streaked with lighter and darker bands.
The grain may be straight but is more frequently
interlocked to irregular. The texture is very
coarse but even. The wood weighs about 38
pounds per cubic foot.
The timber is stated to be a moderately refractory species with some tendency to end
splitting and surface checking.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable.
The presence of irregular and interlocked
grain presents some difficulties in sawing and
planing, but in planing the problem can be
alleviated by the use of proper cutting angles.
Because the wood is used in the United States
mainly in the form of veneer. the lumber machining characteristics are of little consequence.
The wood is utilized principally as decorative
veneer. When used for purposes where smoothness of surface is essential, the pore must, of
necessity, be filled.
ALBIZIA spp.
Albizia
AF
The genus Albizia is represented by a large
number of species widely distributed throughout
the tropics of the world. In Africa the genus is
represented by about 30 species, but many of
these are relatively Small trees of the savannah
areas. The following three species are probably
representative of the range of quality that maybe
anticipated: Albizia adianthifolia, A. ferruginea,
and A. zygia.
3
Albizia ferruginea.--Sapwood straw-colored,
about 2 inches wide and distinct from the heartwood, which varies from a light brown to a dark
chocolate brown. The texture is coarse. The
grain is markedly interlocked. The wood is
moderately hard and heavy, weighing about 44
pounds per cubic foot.
Albizia adianthifolia.--Heartwood alight golden
yellow or light brown sometimes with a greenishyellow cast. Sapwood about 2 inches wide and
distinct from the heartwood. Texture coarse.
Grain shallowly interlocked and the strip pattern
broad and widely spaced. The wood averages
about 35 pounds per cubic foot.
Albizia zygia.--Sapwood white or gray to yellowish-white and distinct from the heartwood,
which is pale brown and often has a reddish cast.
Texture coarse. Grain shallowly and broadly
interlocked. Wood averages about 35 pounds per
cubic foot. The following description applies
principally to this species:
Limited seasoning data suggest that the lumber
can be seasoned with little degrade, but seasons
very slowly in the thicker dimensions. Shrinkage
is low and movement is rated as small.
Variability in weight both within and between
species is reflected in the mechanical properties
and should be taken into account where the timber
is used where strength is a primary consideration.
The heartwood of the various species is rated
as moderately durable to very durable. Heartwood
is generally resistant to preservative treatment.
the wood. They vary in size, but are commonly
about 1/2 inch high, generally occur at fairly
regular intervals, and are abundant over localized
areas of the lumber. A similar condition occurs
in the Asiatic Dyera belonging to the same family
as Alstonia. The wood averages about 25 pounds
per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons rapidly and easily with
slight tendency toward checking and splitting.
Slight distortion is likely to occur in thin, flatsawn lumber.
Alstonia is in the density range of cottonwood
and its mechanical properties are similar.
The wood is rated as perishable, but is readily
treatable with preservatives.
The wood works easily with hand and machine
tools. but sharp cutting tools are essential to
ensure smooth surfaces in wood of this low density.
Although Alstonia can be readily peeled, it is
reported to be unsuited for plywood manufacture
because of the latex traces. Utilization in the solid
form is also restricted because of this inherent
defect and consequently limits the use of the wood
to that of a “short-cutting” species. Alstonia
would be suited for core stock in both solid and
veneer form
ANACARDIUM
Espave
AF
The two African species of Alstonia are widely
distributed throughout West and Central Africa.
The sapwood, which may be up to 7 inches in
width, is not visually distinct from the nearly white
heartwood. The grain is generally straight or with
a broad and shallow interlock. Texture is moderately fine and even. A distinctive feature of the
wood of these species is the presence of slit-like
passages or latex traces that run radially through
FPL 125
AM
Espave ranges from Costa Rica through Panama
into Ecuador, Colombia, andvenezuela. The genus
is best known through the edible cashew nut
(Anacardium occidentale).
The freshly exposed heartwood of espave is a
light yellowish brown to light reddish brown, often
with a greenish cast. These colors may appear
in streaks of variable width Upon exposure to
light the heartwood becomes a fairly uniform
russet brown with a golden or reddish cast. The
sapwood may be very thick, up to 10 inches. and
is sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Both
the sapwood and heartwood are quite lustrous and
prominently marked by the coarse vessel lines.
The grain is Interlocked and shows a coarse
ribbon stripe on quartersawn surfaces. The wood
averages about 30 pounds per cubic foot at 12 percent moisture content.
Espave is rated as moderately difficult to airdry and exhibits a variable drying rate.
The heartwood is rated as durable.
Espave is surpassed in most mechanical prop-
The wood is reported to work fairly easily, but
attention must be given to the machining of
quartered surfaces because of interlocked grain.
Not utilized in the United States at the present
time. The British Laboratory indicates that these
species should be satisfactory for such purposes
as joinery and general carpentry.
ALSTONIA BOONEI & CONGENSIS
Alstonia
EXCELSUM
4
erties by yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
of nearly comparable density, The differences
between the two are small but favorable to yellowpoplar, except in hardness where espave has a
slight advantage.
Machining tests conducted at the Forest products Laboratory show espave as poor in planing
and sanding: chipped grain and fuzzy surfaces
were the most common machining defects. Tension wood appears to be very common in this
species.
Although espave is readily available, it has
never gained favor in the United States for any
form of utilization. The avoidance of this species
is probably attributable to the warping tendencies
of flatsawn material due to wide interlocking
grain and machining difficulties attendant to tension wood.
In its area of growth it is used as a general
utility lumber.
ANISOPTERA spp.
Krabak, Mersawa, Palosapis
to termites. With respect to fungus resistance,
the heartwood is rated as moderately resistant
and should not be used under conditions favoring
decay. The heartwood does not absorb preservative, solutions readily.
The wood machines readily, but the dulling
effect on the cutting edges of ordinary tools is
severe and is very troublesome with saws.
Carbide-tipped saw teeth are essential for the
satisfactory cutting of seasoned lumber and knives
of similar material are necessary for planing.
The wood planes fairly well with sharp cutters,
but a fibrous finish is produced by slightly dull
blades. A cutting angle of 20° may be helpful with
quartered surfaces which tend to tear in the zones
of interlocked grain.
A characteristic feature of the Anisoptera
species is the presence of silica, which occurs
principally in the wood rays. The amount varies
with the species, but all present some difficulty
in sawing and working with machine tools, Available values for silica accumulation range from
0.24 to 1.37 percent of the ovendry weight of the
wood.
It appears probable that the major volume of
these timbers will be used in the form of plywood,
because conversion in this form presents considerably less difficulty than lumber production.
AS
Genus of about 15 species distributed from the
Philippine Islands and Malaysia to East Pakistan.
Names applied to the timber vary with the source
and three names are generally. encountered in the
lumber trade: krabak (Thailand), mersawa (Malaysia), and palosapis (Philippines),
The Anisoptera species produce wood of light
color, moderately coarse texture, and of plain
appearance on flatsawn or rotary-cut surfaces:
quartered surfaces exhibit a slight ribbon strip
figure due to interlocking grain. Although about
15 species comprise the genus Anisoptera, there
is relatively little variation between species in
all respects. The heartwood when freshly sawn is
pale yellow or yellowish-brown and darkens on
exposure. Some timber may show a pinkish cast
or pink streaks, but these eventually disappear
on exposure. The sapwood, which is about 2 inches
wide is poorly defined. The wood weighs about
39 pounds per cubic foot in the seasoned condition
and about 59 pounds when green.
ANTIARIS AFRICANA
Chenchen
& WELWITSCHII
AF
The two African species of Antiaris are fairly
common trees occurring in the high forest zone
of West, Central, and East Africa. Some botanists
include the two African species under the Asiatic
species A. toxicaria.
The wood is generally a light yellow or light
yellow brown with no distinction between heartwood and sapwood. The texture is medium to rather
coarse. Grain is interlocked. Wood averages about
27 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber can be seasoned fairly rapidly, but
has a pronounced tendency to distort; twist may
be a serious degrade.
The mechanical properties of chenchen are
similar to those of Alstonia. The wood is rated
as perishable, but permeable to preservative
treatment.
The wood is moderately difficult to work because
of its low density and interlocking grain. The wood
is reported to glue satisfactorily.
Green lumber air seasons very slowly, and
unless well ventilated during this period, is very
susceptible to deterioration by stain and decay
fungi.
The sapwood is susceptible to attack by powderpost beetles and the heartwood is not resistant
5
The inherent characteristics of Antiaris generally militate against its utilization, at least in
the United States.
ARAUCARIA ANGUSTIFOLIA
“Parana pine”
intrinsically large shrinkage along the grain.
Boards containing compression wood should be
excluded from exacting uses.
The principal uses include framing lumber,
interior trim, sash and door stock, furniture,
case goods, and veneer.
Adequate supplies of lumber are still available
for export from Brazil although it is anticipated
that the volume will decrease because of increasing local demands and because tremendous
volumes were lost in recent years through very
disastrous forest fires.
AM
Although this species is not classified as a
hardwood, it is. included here for convenience and
because it is one of the more important of the
imported species.
The name “Parana pine” is applied to this
species in the United States, but it is not a true
pine in that it does not belong to the genus Pinus .
Its ranges include several of the states of southeastern Brazil and adjacent Argentina and Paraguay. Commercial supplies originate only in
Brazil.
The sapwood is yellowish and not always distinct
from the heartwood, which is a very light brown
and frequently shows bright streaks of red. The
wood is straight-grained and of a more uniform
and finer texture than the softwoods of the North
Temperate zone. Growth rings are evident, but
more or less inconspicuous as in U.S. white pines.
The wood weighs about 34 pounds per cubic foot
at 12 percent moisture content.
“Parana pine” appears to be more difficult to
season than most softwoods and is variable in
this respect. The darker colored wood is very
prone to split, distort, and dry slowly. Inherent
stresses in the wood are likely to cause distortion
on machining.
Strengthwise, “Parana pine” is in the density
range of loblolly and shortleaf pine and the
mechanical properties of these three species are
quite similar.
The heartwood is rated as nondurable with
respect to natural durability and is rated as
moderately resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood can be worked easily by hand and
machine tools and has very little dulling effect
on their cutting edges. It planes and molds to a
clean, smooth finish and gives good results in
most other operations. The wood takes stains and
other finishes readily and can be glued satisfactorily. The wood is free from resin ducts,
pitch pockets, and pitch streaks.
Some tendency toward splitting of kiln-dried
“Parana pine” and warping of seasoned and ripped
lumber is caused by the presence of compression
wood, an abnormal type of wood structure with
FPL 125
ASPIDOSPERMA spp.
Peroba rosa, red peroba
AM
There are a number of species of the genus
Aspidosperma in southeastern Brazil which are
classified as belonging to the peroba group. The
most important of this group from the commercial
standpoint is A. peroba.
The heartwood color of this group is characteristically roseate, sometimes striped with red or
purplish-red, and not sharply demarcated from
the yellowish sapwood. On exposure the wood
assumes a yellow-brown coloration. The texture
is very fine and uniform; grain is straight to
very irregular with a low luster. The wood is
moderately heavy, weighing about 47 pounds per
cubic foot at 12 percent moisture content and in
this respect is about equal to white oak
The wood appears to season without much splitting, but some distortion is likely to develop in
material with variable grain.
The woods of the peroba rosa group are generally heavier than native commercial hardwood
species, but the strength properties are more
nearly on par with woods in the density class of
hard maple.
The heartwood is rated as durable with respect
to fungus attack.
The wood works with moderate ease, although
some difficulties may be anticipated with irregular grain. It takes finishes readily and can be
glued satisfactorily.
The peroba rosa group is an important source
of hardwood in southeastern Brazil where it is
utilized for a multitude of purposes in both solid
and veneer form. In areas of abundance, all the
component parts of frame house construction may
consist of this wood alone, and the furniture may
be made of it. In the United States this should be
6
a good wood for “printing” purposes if not considered too heavy.
cutlery handles. and for fine and attractive
products of turnery or carving.
ASTBONIUM GRAVEOLENS
FRAXINIFOLIUM
Goncalo alves
AUCOUMEA
Okoume
&
AM
Because of their extensive growth range these
species are known locally by a variety of names.
The major and early imports of this wood have
been from Brazil, where the commercial name
is goncalo alves. This name has also been adopted
by the U.S. trade, These species range from
southern Mexico, through Central America Into
the Amazon Basin.
The heartwood is very variable with respect to
color and ranges from various shades of brown
to red with narrow to wide, irregular strips of
dark brown or nearly black. The sapwood is
grayish-white and sharply demarcated from the
heartwood. The pigment figure in these species
is quite striking and very characteristic. The
texture is medium and uniform. Grain is variable
from straight to interlocked and wavy, The wood
is very heavy and averages about 63 pounds per
cubic foot at 12 percent moisture content.
Although the wood is in the high density class,
it is not difficult to work with machine tools. It
turns readily, finishes very smoothly, and takes
a high natural polish. The heartwood is highly
resistant to moisture absorption and the pigmented areas, because of their high density, may
present some difficulties in gluing.
The heartwood is rated as very durable with
respect to fungus attack.
In air seasoning studies, goncalo alves is
observed to’ dry at a fast to moderate rate. It is
rated as moderately difficult to season. Degrade
observed is moderate crooking or bowing accompanied by a slight tendency to twist.
Checking is noted to be slight. Shrinkage is
low, especially so in consideration of the high
density of the wood.
The high density of the wood is accompanied
by equally high strength values, which are considerably higher in most respects than those of
any well known U.S. species. It is not expected,
however, that goncalo alves will be imported for
purposes where strength is an important criterion.
In the United States the greatest value of goncalo
alves is in its use for specialty items such as
archery bows, billiard cue butts, brush backs,
KLAINEANA
AF
Okoume is undoubtedly the most important of
the African timbers with respect to production
volume and utilization. Supplies originate. principally in French Equatorial Africa.
The sapwood is narrow and has a pale gray
color. The heartwood is a salmon pink or light
pinkish brown to a dark reddish brown. The texture is similar to that of mahogany. Okoume is
without odor or taste and quite lustrous. Grain is
straight to interlocked, wavy, and variable, The
wood weighs about 29 Bounds per cubic foot.
The seasoned lumber is generally difficult to
work with machines because of the variability in
grain and the occurrence of silica. The logs are
readily converted to veneer by the rotary and
slicing procedures. Okoume is used in the United
States only in the form of veneer for plywood,
which obviates the difficulties that may be encountered in seasoning and machining in the solid
form
Large volumes of okoume are utilized annually
in Europe. In the United States it is used primarily as a general utility plywood as well as
for decorative effect.
BERLINIA spp.
Berlinia
AF
About a dozen species of Berlinia occur in
West Africa and the Congo area. It is uncertain
whether the various species differ significantly
with respect to their timber quality or whether
commercial shipments are predominantly one
species or include a mixture of species. The
British Laboratory indicates that there is some
evidence that several species are confused and
their timbers may be mixed, but the present state
of knowledge does not permit distinction between
them, The following description is based on timber presumed to be Berlinia grandiflora: The
heartwood varies from pale red to a deep red
brown with dark purple or brown streaks which
are somewhat irregular in outline. The sapwood
is white or gray, often with a pinkish tint, distinct
from the heartwood, and may be up to 12 inches
utilitation in the solid form, which requires
smooth surfaces, but should find application in
the decorative veneer field. Okwen has a rather
pleasing appearance resulting from its color,
luster, and figure.
in width. Texture is coarse and even. The grain
is usually interlocked and sometimes very irregular, Dark-colored gum streaks are said to be a
common feature of this wood. The wood weighs
about 44 pounds per cubic foot.
The timber is reported to season rather slowly
but well.
Berlinia has about the same average density
as white oak and its mechanical properties are
also very similar.
The wood is moderately difficult to work
because of interlocking and irregular grain, but
can be managed with proper attention being paid
to all operations.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and as resistant to preservative treatment.
Berlinia is reported to be unsuitable for plywood manufacture and can be utilized for many
purposes where white oak is used, except where
bending is a prime consideration.
BRACHYSTEGIA
Okwen
spp.
BROSIMUM spp. (Alicastrum group)
Capomo, ojoche, ramon
This group comprises a number of closely
related species occurring from southern Mexico
through Central America into the Amazon Basin
of Peru. The best known species in Latin America
is B. alicastrum, and it contributes its name to
this group.
Both sapwood and heartwood are a uniform
yellowish white, except around knots and other
defects, where the wood is a distinct red. Starch
is common throughout the radius and this consequently may be considered as a “sapwood”
species. Texture is fine; grain is straight to
shallowly interlocked. The wood weighs about
50 pounds per cubic foot.
Because of the abundance of starch, the wood is
rated as nondurable with respect to attack by
insects and decay.
No data are available with regard to seasoning
and kiln-drying, although it is expected they would
be somewhat similar to those of hard maple.
Strength data are very limited, but indicate
that these species are appreciably stronger than
other tropical species of equal density. Shrinkage
data based on one tree of B. alicastrum show it
to be equal to hard maple with respect to inservice conditions of swelling and shrinkage.
The high density coupled with silica accumulation make this wood difficult to machine with
ordinary machine tools. Brosimum uleanum was
observed being used on a relatively large scale
in the manufacture of Sewing machine cabinets
in Peru. In this instance the figured wood (wavy
grain) was sliced for use in face veneer and the
straight-grained wood was utilized for structural
members. Seemingly little difficulty was experienced in utilization and the net effect was a
very handsome cabinet.
Logs showing wavy grain should find ready
acceptance in the fancy veneer trade if they are
protected against degrade through stain and insect
attack. Its high bending strength values suggest
utilization as handles of impact tools.
AF
About five species of Brachystegia are known
from West Africa and the Congo and specific data
are available only for B. nigerica from southern
Nigeria.
The heartwood is a light brown to medium dark
brown with high luster. The light-colored sapwood
is well defined and may be up to 6 inches in width.
The texture is rather similar to or slightly
coarser than that of mahogany. The gram is commonly interlocked and shows a pronounced stripe
figure on quartered surfaces. The wood averages
about 44 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber is reported to season slowly but
fairly well. Distortion is the main cause for
degrade, although there appears to be little tendency to end splitting and surface checking. The
movement of seasoned lumber is rated as medium.
The average density of okwen is the same as
that of white oak and its mechanical properties
are also very similar.
Okwen is reported to be rather difficult to work
and it is difficult to obtain consistently smooth
surfaces due to the steeply interlocking grain.
With respect to natural durability, okwen is
rated as probably moderately durable and the
heartwood is extremely resistant to impregnation.
Okwen does not appear to be well suited for
FPL 125
AM
8
BROSIMUM spp. (Utile group)
Sande, Cocal
AM
showed a maximum silica content of only 0.01 percent of the ovendry weight of the wood. This
amount of silica can occur in any species and
cannot be held responsible for machining difficulties. Tension wood may be a very important
factor in the conversion of timbers in the density
class of sande, but the deleterious effects can be
eliminated or at least minimized by proper
selection of the trees in the forest. In this
density class, trees showing a definite lean or
an obvious eccentric bole are best left in the
forest.
Sande should find utilization for many of the
same purposes as banak, and with the current
demand for molding species, it should assist in
relieving the ever-increasing wood demand of
this industry.
Brosimum utile, which ranges from Costa Rica
to Pacific Ecuador, lends its specific name to
this group of Brosimum woods that are appreciably lighter in weight and coarser textured than
the Brosimum woods comprising the alicastrum
group. Several related species of this group occur
in the Amazon Basin. Considerable volumes of
standing timber occur in the forests of Pacific
Ecuador and Colombia where the vernacular name
is sande. This is also the name used in the U.S.
trade. Practically all of the exportation of sande
is from Pacific Ecuador and Colombia.
The sapwood and heartwood show no distinction, being a uniform yellowish white to yellowish
brown or light brown, The pores are moderately
coarse and evenly distributed. The grain is
straight to widely and shallowly interlocked. The
wood rays generally show prominently on quartered surfaces because of their darker colored
contents. In many respects, sande has much the
same appearance as white seraya (Parashorea
plicata) from Sabah. The utile series consists of
“sapwood” species, just as the alicastrum series
of species does. The wood averages about 33
pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons rapidly and easily with
little or no degrade, except for material containing tension wood, which is always subject to warp
degrade.
The wood is nondurable with respect to stain,
decay, and insect attack and care must be exercised to prevent degrade from these agents.
Strength data for sande are too limited to permit comparison with woods of similar density
such as banak, although it is suspected that they
would be rather similar.
Normal wood of sande machines easily, takes
stains, and finishes readily, and presents no
gluing problems. Lumber containing tension wood
has been prevalent in some shipments and is
chiefly responsible for machining difficulties,
such as raised or fuzzy grain, and the rapid
dulling and burning of saws due to the pinching
effect when stresses are released in the wood
during sawing. These difficulties have led to the
statement that the wood contains silica and that
carbide-tipped saws are to be used for most
economical conversion. Chemical analysis made
on a representative number of samples of sande
BURSERA SIMARUBA
Gumbo-limbo
AM
Gumbo-limbo ranges from southern Florida,
the West Indies, through Mexico and Central
America into northern South America Because
of the resemblance of the wood to that of paper
birch, gumbo-limbo has been erroneously
referred to as “West Indian birch” and “Mexican
white birch.” The application of the name birch
to this wood is very misleading and adds to the
already confused nomenclature of the tropical
woods coming into the U.S. market.
The wood is uniformly white to yellowish
white, a “sapwood” species as evidenced by the
occurrence of starch along the entire radius.
Texture is fine to medium. Grain is usually
straight. The wood is soft and light, averaging
about 24 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons very well with only slight
checking or warping. It is very subject to degrade
(through stain, decay, and insect attack) unless
conversion is accomplished as quickly as possible
after felling and the lumber is treated with antistain and anti-insect solutions immediately after
sawing. Total shrinkage is very low and the
shrinkage-swelling that may be anticipated during
in-service conditions is about 1.1 percent radially and 1.5 percent tangentially. These low values
place gumbo-limbo on a par with mahogany and
Spanish-cedar.
Gumbo-limbo is easy to work with hand and
machine tools in all operations. The wood takes
9
are very prone to twist. This can be avoided by
quartersawing as is commonly done with the
“Philippine mahoganies.”
Shrinkage is generally low, and in movement
between relative humidities of 65 percent and
30 percent it is lower than the hardwood species
commonly used in the U.S. furniture trade.
The wood is moderately easy to work and good
surfaces can be obtained when attention is paid
to machining operations. In planing, the most
critical operation for this species, it is desirable
to use a cutting angle of 20° and machine speeds
that will produce 20 or more knife cuts per inch.
The best machining results are obtained at a
moisture content of 6 to 7 percent.
Santa Maria is in the density of class of hard
maple and its strength properties are generally
similar, with the exception of hardness, in which
property hard maple is superior to Santa Maria
The heartwood is generally rated as moderately
durable to very durable in contact with the
ground, but apparently has little resistance
against termites and marine borers.
The inherent natural durability, color, and
figure on the quarter suggest utilization as face
veneer for plywood in boat construction.
stains and finishes readily and presents no
gluing difficulties. Veneer logs can be peeled on
the rotary lathe without preliminary heating.
The wood is nondurable in use with respect to
conditions favoring stain, decay, and insect attack.
The seasoned wood is suitable for interior use
only. Appropriate precautions must be taken to
ensure production of bright and clean lumber or
veneer.
Gumbo-limbo is in the density range of eastern
white pine, but available strength data indicate
that its strength properties are appreciably below
those of eastern white pine.
The low density and good dimensional stability
of gumbo-limbo suggest utilization in the pattern
industry and for core stock
Difficulties encountered in the utilization of
gumbo-limbo are the frequent crookedness of
the logs, highly perishable nature of the wood,
and occurrence of tension wood. The latter condition is generally responsible for machining and
finishing difficulties as well as the excessive
buckling of veneers. Proper selection of logs for
conversion and their subsequent care would assist
materially in the reduction of degrade in this
species.
CALOPHYLLUM BBASILIENSE
Santa Maria, Maria
AM
CALYCOPHYLLUM
spp.
Capirona, Degame
A genus of about five species found throughout
most of Latin America. The species best known
in the United States and particularly in the archery
field is degame (Calyconhyllum candidissimum),
which was imported in the past in some quantities
from Cuba. “Glass” products have now almost
completely replaced degame in archery bow stave
production. Capirona (C. spruceanum) of the
Amazon Basin is a much larger tree and occurs
in considerably greater abundance than degame.
The information presented here is based primarily on degame, but because of the almost identical
nature of capirona, the data should be applicable
to the latter species.
The heartwood of degame ranges from a light
brown to gray, while that of capirona has a
distinct yellowish cast. In either species there is
no sharp demarcation of heartwood and sapwood.
The texture is fine and uniform. The grain is
usually straight or infrequently shows a shallow
interlocking, which may produce a narrow and
indistinct strip on quartered faces. The luster is
Some botanists attribute several species to the
genus Calophyllum, and others regard the genus
as consisting of a single species with several
geographical forms in Latin America. From the
standpoint of the wood, the genus may be considered to consist of a single species.
Santa Maria ranges from the West Indies to
southern Mexico and southward through Central
America into Northern South America
The heartwood is pinkish to brick red or rich
reddish brown and marked by a fine and slightly
darker striping of parenchyma tissue on flatsawn
surfaces. The sapwood is lighter in color and
generally distinct from the heartwood. Texture
is medium and fairly uniform The grain is
interlocked and shows a broad stripe pattern on
quartered surfaces. Luster is medium The heartwood is rather similar in appearance to the red
lauan of the Philippines. The wood averages about
38 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is moderately difficult to season and
flatsawn boards in the usual nominal thicknesses
FPL 125
AM
10
medium and the wood is without odor and taste.
The wood weighs about 50 pounds per cubic foot.
It has been stated that degame tends to warp
when dried in small sizes such as those used for
archery bow staves. Air seasoning characteristics
for 5/4 lumber are not available. Observations
made on 9/4 plank material at Yale indicated
slight surface and end checking during air seasoning.
Shrinkage is moderate and practically identical
for both degame and capirona. Values obtained
at Yale for two trees of degame from Venezuela
were 4.8 percent radially and 8.6 percent tangentially. Values for four trees from Peru obtained at the Forest Products Laboratory were
4.7 percent radially and 8.5 percent tangentially.
The in-service movement for capirona from Peru
was 1.7 percent radially and 2.8 percent tangentially: these values are like those for hard
maple. Natural durability is low when the wood is
used under conditions favorable to stain, decay,
and insect attack.
In strength, degame is above the average for
woods of similar density. Tests made at Yale
show degame superior to persimmon (Diospyros
virginiana) in all respects but hardness. Limited
tests on hardness of capirona from Peru gave
higher values of side hardness than those of
degame or persimmon.
Degame is moderately difficult to machine
because of its density and hardness, although it
produces no appreciable dulling effect on cutting
tools. Machined surfaces are very smooth and
only insignificant chipping has been noted on
quartered surfaces in which interlocking grain was
present.
Degame and capirona are little used in the
United States at the present time, but the characteristics of the wood should make it particularly
adaptable for shuttles, picker sticks, and other
textile industry items in which resilience and
strength are required. The fine texture and
density would encourage its use in the manufacture of specialty items such as scales and would
make an excellent “printing” wood. It should find
application for many of the same purposes as
hard maple and yellow birch.
CANARIUM SCHWEINFURTHII
Aiele
Canarium in tropical Africa, only this species
seems to be of economic importance in the
region.
The heartwood is a light pinkish brown, somewhat resembling okoume in general appearance
but heavier and coarser textured. The grain is
interlocked and produces a stripe pattern on
quartered surfaces. The wood weighs about 33
pounds per cubic foot,
The wood appears to season rather slowly but
fairly well. Collapse may be troublesome and
there is a tendency toward end splitting. The
movement of the wood in service is rated as
medium
Aiele is reported to work easily with machine
and hand tools, but has a fairly severe blunting
effect on cutting edges due to the occurrence of
silica in the wood,
The wood has the same average density as
mahogany, but its mechanical properties are
generally lower in all respects with the exception
of shear, in which it is superior.
The wood is rated as nondurable and the heartwood is extremely resistant to impregnation.
Aiele is not likely to find utilization in the
United States in the solid or lumber form because
of its silica content. In the form of plywood it
could find use for both utility and decorative
purposes.
CARAPA spp.
Andiroba, cedro macho, crabwood
AM
A genus of five species, four of which are
native to Latin America and one in Africa.
The American species are Carapa guianensis,
ranging from the West Indies and Central America
to western Ecuador and Colombia, into Venezuela,
the Guianas, Amazonian Brazil and eastern Peru;
C. nicaraguensis which overlaps the range of
C. guianensis fromNicaragua to western Ecuador:
C. surinamensis limited to Surinam and French
Guiana; and C. macrocarpa known only from the
State of Para, Brazil. The African species, C.
procera, often attributed to America does not
occur in the Western Hemisphere. The species of
commercial importance are C. guianensis and
C. nicaraguensis.
The heartwood of freshly cut C. guianensis
varies from pinkish to dark red and becomes a
uniform reddish brown upon exposure. In C.
nicaraguensis the heartwood generally ranges
AF
Although there are a number of species of
11
from a light brown to a golden brown. Luster is
variable and neither taste nor odor is distinctive,
The grain is commonly shallowly interlocked and
shows a narrow stripe figure on quartered surfaces. The texture is similar to that of mahogany,
The wood of C. guianensis averages about 38
pounds per cubic foot, and that of C. nicaraguensis about 29 pounds.
According to the British Laboratory, the wood
of C. guianensis seasons well but rather slowly
and has a tendency to split in the initial stages.
Longitudinal distortion may be severe in lumber
where pronounced tension wood is present,
Strength values for C. guianensis are generally
similar to those of white oak except in compression perpendicular to grain. side hardness, and
shear, where white oak has a definite superiority.
Strength values for C. nicaraguensis are very
limited, but suggest values which are proportionate with its lower average specific gravity.
C. guianensis machines well in all operations
but fuzzing may be anticipated when streaks of
tension wood occur in the lumber. Limited
machining tests on C. nicaraguensis showed it to
be well below average with respect to planing,
shaping, and sanding, but these are not to be
considered as conclusive because tension wood
was prevalent in the material available for
testing.
Decay resistance studies on C. guianensis gave
it a rating of durable to very durable, while
those for C. nicaraguensis rate it only as moderately durable.
The wood is well suited for the manufacture
of furniture, millwork, and decorative plywood
and should also find utilization in the boat
building industry. It is, of course, obvious that
tension wood be eliminated for most efficient
utilization.
CARINIANA spp.
Albarco, bacu, jequitiba
under the name tauary.
The sapwood is gray to light brown and generally distinct from the brown to red-brown
heartwood. The grain may be straight or more
commonly with a shallow interlocking of the
grain, which produces a mild appearing and
narrow strip on quartered surfaces. The luster
is medium; the wood is without odor or taste.
Plank material of jequitiba tested at the British
Laboratory gave a weight of about 36 pounds per
cubic foot.
No seasoning information is available. For a
wood of this density class the shrinkage is rather
low and in this respect compares favorably with
our native cedars of much lower density.
Strength data are limited and the tests made
at the British Laboratory on plank material of
jequitiba show it to be similar in all respects to
white oak.
The heartwood is rated as probably durable
with respect to decay.
The working properties of Cariniana vary considerably and apparently are dependent upon the
species under consideration, The British Laboratory reports that jequitiba works easily with
little blunting effect on cutting edges, and is
comparable in this respect with. the better grades
of straight-grained American mahogany. On the
other hand, albarco, which was first introduced
into the United States about the turn of the century as “Colombian mahogany,” lost favor very
rapidly because of its rapid dulling effect on cutting edges. All species of Cariniana are known
to accumulate silica, and a microscopic examination of these species at the Forest Products
Laboratory gave results that seem to account
for differences in dulling effect, The wood of
Cariniana pyriformis was observed to accumulate
silica particles of appreciably larger size and in
greater abundance than in any other of the six
species examined. The silica content was not
determined quantitatively by chemical analysis,
but the fact that it is optically visible suggests
that the amounts present are in excess of 0.05
percent.
Albarco could undoubtedly be handled in the
solid form with appropriate cutting tools and
should offer less difficulty in veneering. Jequitiba
has already been shown to be readily worked with
ordinary cutting tools.
In Brazil, jequitiba is used for many purposes
which include construction and furniture manufacturing, and in place of mahogany in shipbuilding.
AM
A genus of about 10 species distributed from
eastern Peru and northern Bolivia through Brazil
into Venezuela and Colombia. The northernmost
species, Cariniana pyriformis, is known as albarco in Colombia and bacu in Venezuela. C.
legalis appears to be the species best known as
jequitiba in eastern Brazil and C. domestica and
C. estrellensis probably are also included under
this name. Several of the Amazonian species pass
FPL 125
12
CEDRELA spp.
Cedro, Spanish-cedar
AM
boards in similar contact may literally become
glued together, Cedro dried by conventional methods is not recommended for such products as
closed cases for clocks and other types of precision instruments, because the volatiles condense
on the metal parts and materially reduce the
efficiency of the mechanism The volatile content
of the wood can be materially reduced by kiln
drying the unsurfaced stock to a moisture content
of 6 to 8 percent and then heating at 200° F. for
8 to 17 hours at a relative humidity of 60 percent.
The oils and gums will exude to the rough surfaces, which can then be removed in subsequent
planing.
Among importers of cedro it is the general
consensus that wood from certain areas, principally Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Amazon
region, shows more exudate than wood from other
areas. Cedro from Mexico, British Honduras,
and Guatemala infrequently shows such exudations
and is therefore favored.
The heartwood of cedro shows considerable
variation with respect to decay resistance. Wood
in the lower density class which is usually
lighter than average with respect to color may
be rated from nondurable to moderately durable.
Wood of average and better characteristics can
generally be classified as resistant to very
resistant. Wood of the latter type is also considered to be more resistant to dry-wood termite
attack than mahogany, The sapwood is subject to
attack by powder-post beetles.
Cedro is worked very easily with both hand and
power tools, giving good results in all machining
operations. Tension wood, when present, may
result in grain tearing and fuzzing of surfaces in
certain operations. The logs can be veneered
without heating and the resulting veneer dried
exceptionally well and has good gluing properties.
Cedro is used locally for all purposes where an
easy working, light but strong, straight-grained,
and durable wood is required. The wood has
characteristics which recommend it for millwork,
cabinets, patterns, musical instruments, boats,
decorative veneer, and a multitude of other uses.
Cedro and mahogany are the classic timbers of
Latin America.
A genus of seven species distributed from
Mexico to the West Indies and found in all of the
Latin American countries with the exception of
Chile. Prior to the exhaustive study of this genus
published at the Field Museum of Natural History
in 1960, the genus consisted of a nomenclatural
mess of 37 species plus a number of varieties
and forms. The most important and most widespread species are Cedrela odorata, C. angustifolia, and C. fissilis. The name Cedrela mexicana
frequently encountered in the literature is a
synonym of C. odorata.
Freshly cut heartwood is pinkish to reddish
brown and upon exposure it becomes red or dark
reddish brow-n, sometimes with a purplish cast.
It is reported to be darkest in color when grown
on the drier sites and this type of wood is said
to be preferred by local craftsmen. The wood
ranges from diffuse porous to decidedly ringporous, the latter condition producing a distinct
growth-ring pattern on flatsawn surfaces or
rotary-cut veneer. The grain is generally straight,
although interlocking to some degree may occur,
The wood has a medium to high luster which
appears to vary with the depth of color, being
lowest in the lighter colored material. The heartwood has a characteristic “cedary” odor. The
wood is coarser textured than that of mahogany.
On the basis of mechanical tests made at Yale,
cedro with an average specific gravity of 0.40
(green volume and ovendry weight) would be
similar to Central American mahogany in most
properties except in hardness and compression
perpendicular to grain, where mahogany is definitely superior. Most of the imported wood falls
into the 0.34 to 0.38 range of specific gravity
class and, as a consequence. its mechanical
properties would be proportionately lower than
those shown in the table. The wood weighs about
26 pounds per cubic foot.
Cedro is considered easy to season by either
air drying or kiln drying methods. In the tropics
it is common practice to end-rack the lumber in
the sun and little, if any, seasoning degrade is
encountered. Shrinkage is low and uniform; inservice movement of unfinished wood is about
1.2 percent radially and 1.5 percent tangentially.
Cedro contains a gum-like substance with a
volatile aromatic oil. The exudate is likely to stain
materials in intimate contact with the wood and
CEIBA PENTANDRA
Ceiba, fuma
AF
Ceiba pentandra is found throughout the tropics
13
of the world, but the importation of this species
into the U.S. has been only from Africa under
the name fuma. Fuma has been used primarily
for corestock, but has now been largely replaced
by lupuna (Ceiba samauma), which is a firmer
wood and more readily peeled than fuma. Both
species occupy the same range in the Amazon
Basin. Ceiba pentandra exhibits a considerable
range of variability, particularly with respect to
specific gravity and also with moisture content.
Specimens of this species from Ecuador gave
amazing moisture content values ranging from
632 to 1047 percent and a specific gravity
average of 0.089 based on volume when green
and weight when ovendry.
CEIBA SAMAUMA
Lupuna, samauma
be proportionately higher than those for Ceiba
pentandra, which has a lower average specific
gravity. Lupuna averages about 23 pounds per
cubic foot,
Although lupuna is comparatively low in density
and uniform in texture, considerable care is
required in seasoning to prevent excessive checking and splitting. Since some parts of thick green
planks may range in moisture content up to 230
percent, preliminary air seasoning may be more
practical than kiln drying from the green condition. The moisture content falls very rapidly
during ordinary air drying and care must be used
to keep the boards from checking, The wood has
a 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 percent higher equilibrium
moisture content than native U.S. species at any
given relative humidity. The movement of lupuna
for in-service conditions is about 0.9 percent
radially and 1.4 percent tangentially. These
values are low and on par with those encountered
in Central American mahogany and primavera.
In machining tests made at the Forest Products
Laboratory, lupuna performed as well as Central
American mahogany in all respects.
The wood of lupuna, and that of all related
species of this genus, is readily attacked by stain,
decay, and insects and must be regarded as
perishable and a “sapwood” species. The high
starch content of the wood makes it subject to
bacterial attack resulting in the production of
butyric and caproic compounds which possess very
offensive odors. The odor may not be apparent
in seasoned wood or veneer during periods of
low humidity, but it becomes more pronounced
with increasing humidities such as may be
encountered during the summer. The odors pass
readily through overlaying veneer and finishes in
installed plywood and. if the room area is relatively small and high humidity conditions prevail,
the odor may become quite unbearable. The only
cure is removal and replacement of the offending
plywood. Whether the bacterial attack occurs only
in certain trees or when an excessively long
period of time has elapsed between felling and
conversion is not known at this time. Seemingly
these highly “aromatic” logs could be detected
at the time of sawing or veneering.
The low density, good dimensional stability,
and good machinability make lupuna ideally suited
for both solid and veneer core and patterns.
Lupuna should also find utilization in the molding
industry.
AM
Ceiba samauma which is native to the Amazon
Basin is known as lupuna in the Peruvian Amazon
and as samauma in its Brazilian range. The name
lupuna has been generally adopted by the U.S.
trade. When this species was first introduced
into the United States it was believed to be a
species of Chorisia, which is closely related to
Ceiba. Specially collected botanical material
consisting of leaves, flowers, and fruits from a
number of trees have established the true identity
of this wood as Ceiba samauma.
There is no sharp line of demarcation between
sapwood and heartwood. The color varies between different trees, and ranges from a cream
to a very pale reddish-brown Figure on flatsawn
surfaces is produced by rather conspicuous pore
lines and by the more or less evenly spaced
parenchyma bands which demarcate the growth
ring boundaries. Figure on quartered surfaces is
produced by the somewhat conspicuous ray flecks
and a ribbon strip resulting from shallowly interlocked grain. The texture is moderate to coarse.
The black “veins” found in this wood are traumatic
gum ducts that result from injury to the tree.
The strength properties of this species have
not been investigated although a number of side
hardness tests made at the Forest Products
Laboratory gave an average value of 500 pounds
at a moisture content of 14 percent. In this
respect, lupuna would rank between cottonwood
and yellow-poplar. Its strength properties should
FPL 125
14
CHLOROPHORA EXCELSA & REGIA
Iroko, kambala
AF
native to central and southern India and Ceylon,
The name satinwood has been applied to many
species representing totally unrelated genera and
is applied properly only to one other member of
the family Rutaceae, and that is the West Indian
Satinwood (Zanthoxylum flavum).
The wood is a light yellow or golden yellow in
color without a distinct zone of demarcation between sapwood and heartwood. It has an exceptionally high luster on quartered surfaces, The
grain is very narrowly interlocked and frequently
is accompanied by an attractive mottle figure.
Texture is fine and the wood is fragrant, The
wood is heavy, weighing about 60 pounds per
cubic foot. In side hardness this species is almost
twice as hard as sugar maple (Acer saccharum).
The logs of this species are usually of small
diameter and generally average between 1 and
1.5 feet in this dimension. The wood is utilized
in the United States only in the form of quartersliced veneer, which brings out to best advantage
the high luster and figure found in this species
It is an expensive and highly decorative veneer
species.
Both species of Chlorophora from Africa are
commonly known by the name iroko, but the
timber originating in the Congo frequently passes
under the name kambala. Chlorophora excelsa
ranges from Ivory Coast southward to Angola
and eastward across the continent into East
Africa, Chlorophora regia has a more restricted
range from Gambia to Ghana.
The heartwood varies from a pale yellowishbrown to dark chocolate brown with lighter
markings associated with the vessel lines, which
are most conspicuous on flatsawn surfaces. The
texture is rather coarse and uniform, Grain is
typically interlocked and shows a broad and
widely spaced stripe pattern on quartered surfaces. The wood weighs about 40 pounds per cubic
foot. Hard deposits, commonly referred to as
“stone,” may occur in these trees. They are
largely calcium carbonate and are deposited in
cavities probably developed. through some sort
of injury to the tree.
The wood seasons well and fairly rapidly without much degrade. The movement of seasoned
wood is rated as small.
The wood seasons well and fairly rapidly
without much degrade. The movement of seasoned
wood is rated as small.
The wood works with moderate ease in most
machining operations and its dulling effect on
cutting edges is about normal for a wood in its
density class. The “stone” deposits, however,
can be very damaging to cutting edges when they
are not readily detectable and cannot be avoided
by the machine operator.
Iroko is in the density range of white oak, but
its mechanical properties are generally below
those of white oak.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and as
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Iroko is not utilized to any large extent in the
United States, but should be well suited for many
purposes where strength and inherent durability
are prime requirements.
CHLOROXYLON
SWIETENIA
Satinwood, East Indian
CORDIA spp.
Freijo, laurel, peterebi
AM
The genus Cordia contains numerous species.
but only a relatively small number are trees of
commercial size. The three most important species are Cordia alliodora (laurel) with the most
extensive range from the West Indies and Mexico
southward to northern Bolivia and eastern Peru:
C. goeldiana (freijo) of the Amazon basin; and
C. trichotoma (peterebi) of southeastern Brazil,
northern Argentina, and adjacent Paraguay.
The heartwood is light to medium brown,
plain or frequently with a pigment figure outlining the growth ring pattern. Sapwood is generally distinct and of a yellowish or very light
brown color. Grain is generally straight or shallowly interlocked. Texture is medium and uniform
The lustrous wood rays produce a distinctive and
rather attractive pattern on quartered surfaces.
Luster in general is medium to high. The wood
is variable in weight, but in the same density
range as mahogany and cedro.
The wood air seasons at a moderate rate and
degrade is generally limited to a moderate amount
of warping. Surface checking and end splitting
As
East Indian Satinwood is a monotypic species
15
are generally minimal. The wood saws and
machines easily with good to excellent results
in all operations. It is reported to glue readily
and holds its place well when manufactured.
The Cordia woods are rated as moderately
durable to durable when used in contact with the
ground, and are rated slightly above mahogany
with respect to resistance against dry wood
termites. The darker colored wood is reputed
to be more durable with respect to decay and
have better termite resistance than the lighter
colored material.
The strength properties of these Cordias are
generally on a par with those of mahogany and
cedro.
Because of their ease of working, good durability, low shrinkage, and attractiveness, the
woods are used extensively within their areas of
growth for furniture, cabinet work, general construction, boat construction, and many other uses.
The characteristics of the wood should qualify it
for use in the United States for many of the
same purposes as mahogany and cedro.
CYBISTAX DONNELL-SMITHII
Primavera
variation, the wood machines remarkably well
in all operations. In machining, primavera is
practically the equal of straight-grained mahogany. The wood has excellent veneering
qualities.
The heartwood is rated as durable to very
durable with respect to fungus attack.
The strength properties of primavera are
adequate for all purposes for which the wood is
used. It is lighter in weight than mahogany and
its strength properties are proportionately lower.
Primavera has been used in the furniture and
cabinet industry of both Europe and the United
States for many years. The dimensional stability,
ease of working, and pleasing appearance recommend primavera for solid furniture, paneling,
interior trim, and other decorative uses.
DALBERGIA LATIFOLIA
Indian rosewood
Native to most provinces of India except in
the Northwest.
The heartwood is a dark purplish-brown with
denser blackish streaks terminating the growth
zones and giving rise to an attractive figure on
flatsawn surfaces. The average weight is about
53 pounds per cubic foot. The texture is uniform
and moderately coarse; grain is narrowly interlocked and produces an inconspicuous stripe
figure on quartered surfaces which is somewhat
accentuated by the presence of zones of darker
color. The wood of this species is quite similar
in appearance to that of the Brazilian and Honduras rosewood.
The timber is stated- to air dry fairly rapidly
with no appreciable degrade. The characteristic
defects of this species are slight surface checking and end checking and the lengthening of any
shakes that may be present. The central core
of the log very commonly contains numerous
shakes. This species may be classified as a
moderately refractory one, requiring a fair amount
of protection against too rapid drying. The timber
is said to kiln dry well, but rather slowly, and
the color is said to improve during drying.
Indian rosewood is a heavy timber with high
strength properties and is particularly hard for
its weight after being thoroughly seasoned.
The wood is moderately hard to work with
hand tools and offers a fair resistance in machine
operations. Lumber containing calcareous de-
AM
The natural distribution of primavera is restricted to southwestern Mexico, the Pacific
coast of Guatemala and El Salvador, and northcentral Honduras. Plantations have been established within the natural range and are now producing commercial quantities of logs for lumber
and veneer.
The wood of primavera is whitish to strawyellow. The difference in color between sapwood
and heartwood is very slight and cannot be
detected in dried lumber or veneer, The luster
is very high. Texture is like that of mahogany.
The grain is almost invariably irregular, but
the figure produced on flatsawn surfaces is not
distinctive. Quartered surfaces exhibit a wide
variety of figure which is comparable to that of
mahogany and the satinwoods. The wood weighs
about 30 pounds per cubic foot.
Primavera kiln dries easily and rapidly with
little or no degrade due to warping and checking.
There appears to he no difference in the drying
characteristics of the sapwood and heartwood. The
shrinkage is low and uniform and movement
values are on a par with those of mahogany.
Although primavera has considerable grain
FPL 125
AS
16
posits tends to blunt tools rapidly. A good surface is Obtained In most operations under normal
working conditions and smooth surfaces are produced in planing, particularly if a cutting angle of
25° is used. The wood turns well and has high
screw-holding properties. Filling of the pores is
desirable if a very smooth surface is required
for certain purposes.
Indian rosewood is essentially a decorative
wood for high-class furniture and cabinet work.
In the United States it is used primarily in the
form of veneer.
DALBERGIA MELANOXYLON
African blackwood
AF
African blackwood has a rather extensive range
in Africa and occurs in the savannah regions
from Senegal and northern Nigeria eastward to
Sudan and Abyssinia and southward into Transvaal.
The trees are small and usually of poor form so
that the amount of usable wood from a given bolt
is usually small.
The heartwood is a deep brown to purpleblack, the colors commonly alternating in narrow
bands. The sapwood is yellowish and thin, up to
1/2-inch thick.
Texture is moderately coarse. Grain is straight
and luster is low, The wood is very hard and
heavy, weighing about 70 pounds per cubic foot
at 6 percent moisture content.
The wood can be air dried satisfactorily, but
this must be done slowly to prevent degrade
through checking. African blackwood has been
successfully treated with polyethylene glycol-1000
when in the green condition to improve dimensional
stability and to reduce or practically eliminate
degrade from checking. After treatment, seasoning presents no difficulties.
In the United States, African blackwood is used
primarily in the manufacture of woodwind instruments. For this utilization, the wood is machined
with metal-working equipment.
DALBERGIA NIGRA
Brazilian rosewood, jacaranda
AM
Brazilian rosewood has been an article of
commerce for several centuries, but amazingly,
there are no technical data available for this
17
species. It would appear that its early acceptance
by the makers of classic furniture mitigated
against the need for a thorough academic study
of the wood properties. At any rate, Brazilian
rosewood or jacaranda, as it is known in Brazil,
still maintains its long established reputation as
one of the most esteemed woods of the world.
Brazilian rosewood occurs in the eastern forests of the State of Bahia to Rio de Janeiro.
Having been exploited for such a long period of
time it is, at present, nowhere abundant.
The wood of commerce is very variable with
respect to color, ranging through shades of brown,
red, and violet and is irregularly and conspicuously streaked with black. Many kinds are distinguished locally on the basis of prevailing color.
The texture is coarse and is commonly overlooked because attention is generally drawn to
the color. Grain is generally straight. Heartwood
has an oily or waxy appearance and feel. The
odor is fragrant and distinctive. The wood is
hard and heavy, thoroughly air dry wood is just
barely floatable in water.
The strength properties have not been determined, but for the purposes for which Brazilian
rosewood is utilized they are more than adequate.
In hardness, for example, it exceeds by far any
of the native hardwood species used in the
furniture and veneer field.
The wood machines and veneers well. It can be
glued satisfactorily, providing the necessary precautions are taken to ensure good glue bonds as
with other woods in this density class.
Brazilian rosewood has an excellent reputation
for durability with respect to fungus and insect
attack, including termites, although the wood is
not used for purposes where these would present
a problem
Brazilian rosewood is used primarily in the
form of veneer for decorative plywood. Limited
quantities are used in the solid form for specialty
items such as cutlery handles, brush backs,
billiard cue butts, and fancy articles of turnery.
Due to existing shortages of Brazilian rosewood,
present day shipments may include wood of somewhat similar color but of finer texture, which
belongs to the closely related genus Machaerium.
Wood of the latter genus is known in Brazil by
the common name of caviuna
DALBERGIA
Cocobolo
RETUSA
fact that its average density appears to be generally lower than that of banak, its properties
would be proportionately lower than those of banak
Cuangare air seasons and kiln dries readily,
Lumber containing streaks of dark color has been
referred to as “brownheart” and these zones have
been found to have moisture contents up to
80 percent even though the normal lumber was at
a moisture content of about 17 percent. Kilndried “brownheart” material will be appreciably
above the moisture content desired for fabrication purposes, and when used for corestock it is
known to collapse and produce wavy surfaced
panels. Kiln-drying studies of previously airdried lumber indicated that, by using a mild
schedule and by assuming an artificially high
kiln sample moisture content for pieces with wet
zones, such stock can be kiln dried to a uniform
moisture content without collapse, excessive
shrinkage, or honeycomb.
The best results were obtained using a modified
Forest Products Laboratory hardwood kiln schedule T5-C3. The elapsed time was 6-3/4 days,
including equalizing and conditioning. Subsequent
hot-pressing trials with some of the stock produced wavy panels, and it is recommended that
material containing “brownheart” should not be
used for hot-press panel core stock.
Cuangare is currently being used in the United
States for corestock (normal wood), moldings,
interior doors, and paneling.
AM
Dalbergia retusa, and very probably two additional species in Central America and southern
Mexico, supply the cocobolo of commerce. This
species is closely related to Brazilian rosewood
and is technically similar to it. Cocobolo differs
primarily with respect to color and odor, Cocobolo heartwood predominates in the reds, yellows,
and orange with dark pigment streaks; the wood
has a rather sharp “cinnamon-like” odor, Cocobolo is used for the same purposes as Brazilian
rosewood.
The fine dust arising in machining operations
may produce an allergic response in susceptible
individuals, which is generally a form of dermatitis resembling ivy poisoning. It has been stated
that workmen whose perspiration gives an acid
reaction are resistant, while an alkaline reaction
indicates susceptibility. A good sawdustcollecting system is essential in the machining
of cocobolo.
DIALYANTHERA spp.
Cusngare, “virola”
AM
“Virola” is the common name currently being
applied to the wood of two or more species of
Dialyanthera originating in Pacific forests of
Colombia and Ecuador, The local name for the
wood is cuangare and would be preferred for
common usage because the common name “virola”
is frequently confused with the botanical genus
Virola. The two genera are closely related botanically and belong to the same family, the
Myristicaceae. The manufactured wood has also
been called nutmeg in the trade journals.
The wood is a pale, pinkish-brown with a
medium to high luster. There is no demarcation
between heartwood and sapwood. Starch is abundant throughout the wood and thus it may be
classified as a perishable wood or a “sapwood
species.” The wood is generally straight-grained.
easy to work, holds nails well, and finishes
smoothly. In its gross appearance, cuangare most
nearly resembles the closely related banak of
the botanical genus Virola. Cuangare averages
about 25 pounds per cubic foot.
Strength data are not available for cuangare,
but on the basis of anatomical similarity and the
FPL 125
DICORYNIA GUIANENSIS
Angelique, basra locus
AM
Angelique or basra locus has long been incorrectly identified with the botanical name Dicorynia
paraensis, but it differs from the latter with
respect to floral characteristics and its restricted
range of growth Dicorynia guianensis is limited
to French Guiana where it is known as angelique
and Surinam where the common name is basra
locus. It is available in considerable volume from
both countries.
Because of the variability in color between
different trees, three forms or types are recognized by producers. Heartwood that is russet
colored when freshly cut and becomes superficially dull brown, commonly with a purplish
cast on drying, is referred to as “gris.” Heartwood that has a more distinct reddish cast and
18
frequently shows wide bands of purplish color is
called “rouge.” Grayish-white wood. which apparently comes from trees that are late in
forming typical heartwood, is called “blanc.” The
“blanc” type contains abundant starch deposits
and in this respect possesses the characteristics
associated with sapwood.
The grain is generally straight to slightly
interlocked. The texture is medium. Flatsawn
surfaces usually show a pattern produced by the
wood parenchyma bands, which appear violet
against the background color of the wood Quartered lumber shows a more or less distinctive
strip figure associated with interlocked grain.
With respect to strength the wood is superior
to teak and white oak, when either green or air
dry, in all properties except tension perpendicular
to grain, in which it is surpassed by both. The
wood averages slightly heavier than teak or white
oak.
Machinability varies with the different forms
and this is reportedly due to differences in density and silica content. Sawing is the least difficult when the wood is in the green condition,
although considerable dulling of the saw does
occur. After the wood is thoroughly air dried or
kiln dried, it can be worked effectively only with
carbide-tipped tools. A planer cutting angle of
15° is said to be suitable for working this species.
The wood finishes smoothly and is moderately
easy to glue. Silica analysis made on the Surinam
wood gave a range of values from 0.20 to 1.70
percent silica based on the ovendry weight of the
wood. A value of 2.92 percent silica has been
reported.
The wood may collapse badly when kiln dried
from the green condition, but if it is well air
dried it can be kiln dried readily. It is subject
to checking and splitting during air seasoning
and careful piling methods should be used. The
total shrinkage from the green to ovendry condition is slightly less than that of white oak.
The heartwood is rated as very resistant to
decay and resistant to marine borer attack. Local
reputation indicates that the wood has considerable resistance to termite attack and that the
‘rouge’ form is superior to the others.
When exposed to weathering without a protective coating, the wood develops characteristic
hairline checks that cover practically all of the
surfaces, This checking does not appear to become
extensive with time and is not disqualifying for
most structural uses. The heartwood is quite
resistant to moisture absorption and in this
respect is comparable to white oak.
Its strength and durability combined make
angelique or basra locus especially suitable for
heavy construction, harbor installations, bridges,
heavy planking for pier and platform decking, and
railroad bridge ties. The wood is particularly
suitable for ship decking, planking, boat frames,
and underwater members. The wood is used in
the United States primarily in the form of timbers for heavy duty and durable marine construction. Small quantities have been used for
flooring
DIOSPYROS spp.
Ebony, African
AF
The genus Diospyros is represented in Africa
by about 40 species but only a few produce
enough of the dark-colored heartwood to be of
economic importance. The ebony of commerce
originating in West Africa is believed to be D.
crassiflora and D. piscatoria. Both species are
trees of relatively small dimensions.
As with most ebony woods, the color varies
from nonuniform to a uniform black The best of
the jet-black wood is said to be D. crassiflora.
The wood is very fine textured, very hard and
heavy, averaging about 63 pounds per cubic foot.
In small dimensions the wood is reported to
season rapidly and easily, but has a tendency
toward splitting or distortion.
Because of the hardness of the wood, it is best
worked with metal working equipment. Ebony is
a specialty item wood and is used primarily for
small parts of musical instruments, carvings,
and items of turnery.
DIOSPYROS spp.
Ebony, East Indian
AS
The species comprising this group are Indian
ebony (Diospyros melanoxylon), Ceylon ebony
(D. ebenum), and Andaman ebony (D. marmorate).
The genus Diospyros consists of about 200
species distributed through the tropics of the
world. Several reach the temperate zone, one of
which is the well-known persimmon (Diospyros
virginiana) of the United States which is used
19
species of Dipterocarpus are marketed collectively as yang in Thailand, apitong in the Philippine Islands, gurjun in Indian and Burma, and
keruing in Malaysia and Indonesia. Because the
number of species producing yang and apitong is
a p p r e c i a b l y less than the number producing
keruing, the timber from Thailand and the Philippines is considered to be less variable in its
properties than that from Malaysia.
Sapwood is gray or buff with a pinkish or
purplish cast, 2 to 3 inches in width, and sharply
defined when dry. Heartwood varies from light
to dark red brown or brown to dark brown with
a reddish or purplish cast. Grain is usually
straight or only shallowly interlocked. Texture
is moderately coarse but even. Resin canals
(axial) occur in all species and when abundant
may exude resin over the surface of sawn lumber, particularly if the lumber is exposed to the
sun or excessive heat, The various species
weigh between 40 and 57 pounds per cubic foot
when seasoned and the freshly sawn timber
generally weighs between 60 and 70 pounds per
cubic foot. Strength is, of course, variable with
species and density; average apitong, for example,
is appreciably stronger than white oak in bending,
stiffness, and compression parallel to grain, but
somewhat weaker in shear and hardness.
Kiln drying is rather slow with a marked
tendency toward development of cupping. In thicknesses greater than 2 inches, the wood is very
slow to dry and it is sometimes difficult to
achieve uniform drying. Resin exudation is often
troublesome, especially if high temperatures are
used, and existing surface checks will open up.
Slight collapse may occur.
All species contain silica in amounts Varying
with the species, but in general, the silica content is less than 0.5 percent of the ovendry weight
of the wood. In the green condition the wood can
be sawn and machined without serious difficulty,
but the tool dulling effect increases as the wood
dries. In some species the dulling effect may be
severe when the wood has been air dried, and
the use of tungsten-carbide tipped tools, especially saws is advisable. The wood machines to a
clean, slightly fibrous surface. Quartersawn surfaces may pick up in planing unless the cutting
angle is reduced to 20° Resin adhering to tools
and working surfaces is sometimes troublesome.
Durability varies with species. Some of the
lower density species are regarded as nondurable
but most are at least moderately durable. Insect
for golf club heads and shuttles. Within the genus
the wood ranges through shades of grayish-white,
yellowish-white, reddish-gray, brownish-gray,
purplish-gray, variegated black to Jet black, and
infrequently has greenish zones. The trees producing the ebony of commerce are usually small-1 to 2 feet in diameter--and may have a relatively
small core of usable wood. The number of
species producing the ebony of commerce is
relatively small in comparison to the size of the
genus.
Ceylon ebony is an extremely heavy, fine, and
even-textured black wood. Irregular light-brown
streaks are commonly present but these are a
much less conspicuous feature than in most other
East Indian species. The striping is characteristic
in the Andaman and Macassar ebonies. The
average weight of Ceylon ebony is about 73 pounds
per cubic foot.
The black portions of D. ebenus are reputed to
be very difficult to season as the wood develops
long, fine, deep cracks, especially if cut to
relatively large dimensions. It is best to convert
the logs to the smallest convenient size and store
under protective cover from the sun. The best
results in air seasoning D. melanoxylon are said
to have been obtained by girdling the trees and
allowing them to stand for 2 years before felling,
followed by 6 months of seasoning in plank form
The dark heartwood is liable to develop end
splits and surface checks and should be well
protected against rapid drying.
The ebonies are extremely hard to work with
both hand and machine tools and have a considerable dulling effect on tool cutting edges. The wood
is brittle and cuts harshly, producing a fine sawdust. A very smooth finish can be obtained in
most operations. In planing, the material must
be held firmly in the machine to prevent chattering on the cutters.
The ebonies are utilized primarily in the turnery
field for many purposes, but particularly in the
manufacture of parts for stringed instruments.
In the cabinet trade the wood is used primarily
for inlay work.
DIPTEROCARPUS
spp.
Apitong, gurjun, keruing, yang
AS
This genus consists of about 80 species of trees
widely distributed through Southeast Asia from
the Philippines to India. Timbers produced by
FPL 125
20
respect to its dulling effect on cutting tools. In
addition to silica, the occurrence of interlocked
grain may present additional machining difficulties unless suitable precautions are taken.
The wood can be glued satisfactorily.
The similarity of movingui to white oak suggests its use for many of the same purposes.
The wood should not be used under conditions
where it may come in contact with wet fabrics,
because the yellow extractive in the wood acts
as a direct dye on such materials.
damage is generally confined to the sapwood in
the case of ambrosia and Lyctus, but the heartwood is very susceptible to termite attack.
The wood is rated as moderately resistant to
penetration by preservative solutions, but the
vessels are very readily impregnated. For exterior use the wood should be preservatively
treated,
The uses for the timber are numerous and
varied. Large volumes go Into mine guides where
it is unexcelled because of its availability in
long, clear lengths and its open pored nature,
which permits retention of lubricants for long
periods of time. Another very important utilization is for heavy-duty flooring, particularly in
box cars and trucks where its uniform texture is
a distinct advantage over species showing a
marked contrast within the growth ring. Other
uses include keels, bumpers, and stems for boat
building; dock planking and fenders; pallets;
acid pickle boxes; agitators for chemical solutions; and platforms around chemical vats.
DISTEMONANTHUS
Ayan, movingui
BENTHAMIANUS
DRACONTOMELON
Dao
spp.
AS
A genus of six species native to Southeast
Asia of which four are of commercial importance:
d a o (Dracacontomelon dao), ulandog (D.
sylvestre), and lamio (D. edule) of the Philippines
and sengkuang or laup (D. mangiferum) occurring
throughout Malaysia and New Guinea
The heartwood varies from light brown, grayish or greenish-yellow to reddish-brown. It is
often streaked with varying amounts of deep
brown or almost black. The sapwood is generally
pinkish or grayish and up to 4 inches in thickness.
From the Philippines it is reported that in some
trees the sapwood may comprise from 30 to
45 percent of the volume of the log. Grain is
straight to interlocked and irregular. Texture is
moderately fine to coarse. Weight of dao is about
38 pounds per cubic foot and mangiferum, 32
pounds.
The wood veneers readily and is used primarily in the United States for decorative veneer
purposes.
AF
This genus represented by a single species is
widely distributed through the rain forest zone of
West Africa.
The heartwood varies from a yellow to a
yellow-brown, the heavier material generally
being darker in color, The sapwood is strawcolored, narrow, and usually distinct from the
heartwood. Texture is similar to mahogany.
Grain is interlocked to wavy and variable; luster
is high. The wood contains a yellow extractive
which is visible in the pores as a yellow deposit.
It is also an accumulator of silica and shows
considerable variation in this respect; the denser
wood generally possessing the greater accumulation. The wood weighs about 42 pounds Per cubic
foot.
The lumber is reported to be readily seasoned
with little degrade. The movement of seasoned
wood is rated as small.
Movingui has the same average density as
white oak and its mechanical properties are also
very similar in all respects.
The heartwood is rated as being moderately
durable and resistant to preservative treatment.
Because of the variability with respect to silica
accumulation, the wood varies considerably with
DRYOBALANOPS
spp.
Kapur, keladan
AS
The genus Dryobalanops comprises some nine
species distributed over part of Malaya, Sumatra,
and Borneo, including North Borneo and Sarawak.
The timber exported from North Borneo and
Sarawak is believed to be mainly D. lanceolata,
though small quantities of other species may be
included in commercial shipments. Malayan exports consist of two species, D. aromatica and
D. blongifolia. In Malaya the local name kapur is
restricted to D. aromatica, and D. oblongifolia is
known as keladan. For the export trade. however,
21
the two species are combined under the name
kapur.
The heartwood is light-reddish brown, clearly
demarcated from the pale colored sapwood. The
wood is fairly coarse textured but uniform. The
freshly cut wood has a characteristic camphorlike odor which fades in time. In general appearance the wood resembles that of apitong and
keruing, but on the whole it is straighter grained
and not quite so ‘coarse in texture. The resin ducts
which are in fine, whitish, concentric lines contain a solid material which does not normally
exude over the surfaces of the wood. The Malayan
timber averages about 48 pounds per cubic foot
and the Bornea (D. lanceolata) is slightly lighter,
averaging about 44 pounds per cubic foot.
The timber is said to season fairly well, with
a slight tendency to split and check, but it is
definitely less troublesome in this respect than
keruing.
Strength properties values available for D.
lanceolata show it to be on a par with apitong or
keruing of similar specific gravity.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood works with moderate ease in most
hand and machine operations. It is somewhat
easier to work than average quality keruing and,
in general, has slightly less dulling effect on the
cutting edges of tools. This is variable, however.
and saw teeth are sometimes dulled rapidly. A
good surface is obtainable from the various
machining operations, but there is a tendency
toward “raised grain” if dull cutters are used.
It takes nails and screws satisfactorily. A silica
content of 0.91 percent is reported for D. lanceolata, 0.39 percent for D. aromatica, and 0.12 percent for D. oblongifolia.
The wood provides good and very. durable
construction timbers and is suitable for all the
purposes for which apitong and keruing are used
for in the United States.
DYERA COSTULATA
Jelutong
The grain is straight, and luster is low. The wood
weighs about 29 pounds per cubic foot.
A natural defect of this species, as in many
other timbers of this family, is the occurrence
of large latex traces or passages which radiate
outward in the stem at the branch whorls. The
channel openings appear lens-shaped on flatsawn
surfaces, generally are about 1/2 inch in height
along the grain, and are distributed in irregularly
spaced rows along the length of the lumber. The
rows are generally 2 to 3 feet apart, depending
upon the spacing of the branch whorls. The passages contain unlignified parenchymatous tissue
in which are embedded numerous small latex
canals; the canals exude latex when the timber is
green, but later dry and shrivel. In seasoned
timber the latex passages contain dried ribbons
of tissue which have become detached from the
wood.
The wood is reported to be very easy to season
with little tendency to split or warp, but staining
may cause trouble.
The wood is easy to work in all operations,
finishes well, and can be glued satisfactorily.
The wood is rated as nondurable. but readily
permeable to preservatives.
Jelutong would make an excellent core stock
if it were economically feasible to fill the latex
channels. Because of its low density and ease of
working, it is well suited for sculpture and pattern. Jelutong is essentially a “short-cutting”
species, because the wood between the channels
is remarkably free of other defects.
ENDIANDRA PALMEBSTONII
Orientalwood
Orientalwood is native to the heavy rainfall
area in the coastal tablelands of northern Queensland, Australia. It is said to be one of the most
common trees in that region.
The heartwood shows a general resemblance
to plain European walnut (Juglans regia) and
shows almost as great a variety of coloration;
it varies from light or pinkish-brown to dark
brown, often with pinkish, grayish-green or blackish streaks. The grain is interlocked in varying
degrees and frequently rather wavy, giving a
broken stripe or mottle pattern on quartered
surfaces. The various patterns have been described as straight stripe, irregular stripe,
mottle with straight stripe, fiddle-back, and
AS
Jelutong is an important species in Malaya
where it is best known for its latex production
rather than its timber.
The wood is white or straw-colored and there
is no differentiation between heartwood and sapwood. The texture is moderately fine and even.
FPL 125
AS
22
finger roll. The medium and even texture is
similar to that of European walnut, but the wood
is more lustrous and slightly heavier, weighing
about 42 pounds per cubic foot. The wood accumulates silica in the wood rays.
The timber is said to kiln dry fairly rapidly
in the thinner sizes without any tendency toward
surface or internal checking. but with some
tendency toward warp. Thicker materials are
reported to be likely to split unless quartersawn.
The wood offers a moderate resistance to cutting by hand and machine tools when they are
sharp, but has a severe dulling effect on the
cutting edges of the tools, particularly saws. The
use of special saws, having teeth tipped with
tungsten carbide, is recommended where continuous production is anticipated. The occurrence
of silica in the wood has less influence on veneer
knives, and for that reason the wood used in the
United States is practically always in veneer
form. The flitches are commonly sliced on the
quarter to take advantage of the stripe and mottle
figure produced in this species.
ENTANDROPHRAGMA
Tiama, edinam
ANGOLENSE
difficulty unless proper cutting angles are maintained. The wood finishes and stains well and
provides satisfactory glue bonds,
Tiama provides both plain and decorative
veneer and is used extensively in this form.
Other uses include furniture and cabinet making
and, to a certain extent, boat construction.
ENTANDROPHRAGMA
Kosipo, Omu
CANDOLLEI
AF
A large forest tree ranging through West
Africa to Angola and the Congo region.
The heartwood is a dull brown or purplishbrown and distinct from the lighter colored sapwood which may be 2 to 3 inches wide. The texture of kosipo is coarser than that of the other
Entandrophragma species and the parenchyma
bands are conspicuous on planed surfaces. The
grain is interlocked. The wood weighs about 39
pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to season slowly and
with a marked tendency to distort. The movement
of seasoned wood in service is rated as medium.
Kosipo offers more difficulties in machining
than the other members of the genus and this
may be attributable to the combination of silica,
abundance of parenchyma, and interlocked grain.
Grain-raising and grain-tearing are common
defects in machining and veneering.
Apparently this species is little used because
of the availability of related species with better
properties.
AF
A large tree of the semievergreen forest
ranging from French Guinea to Angola and
eastward through the Congo to the Sudan and
Uganda.
The heartwood is generally a dull reddishbrown and distinct from the sapwood, which may
be up to 4 inches thick. Texture is similar to
mahogany and khaya. Grain is interlocked. The
wood weighs about 34 pounds per cubic foot.
This species is the plainest appearing of the
several Entandrophragma
species.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly and with a
marked tendency to distort. The in-service movement is classified as small.
Tiama averages slightly more in weight than
American mahogany, but its mechanical properties are lower than those of mahogany with respect to bending and compression parallel to
grain. Tiama is superior with respect to side
hardness and shear.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and as extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Tiama works rather easily with machine and
hand tools, but interlocked grain may give some
ENTANDROPHRAGMA
Sapele
CYLINDRICUM
AF
A large African rain forest tree ranging from
Sierra Leone to Angola and eastward through the
Congo to Uganda.
The heartwood ranges in color from that of
mahogany to a dark reddish- or purplish-brown
The lighter colored and distinct sapwood may be
up to 4 inches thick. Texture is finer than that of
mahogany. Grain is interlocked and produces a
narrow and uniform stripe pattern on quartered
surfaces. The wood averages about 39 pounds
per cubic foot.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly and with a
marked tendency to distort.
Sapele has the same average density as white
23
oak, and its mechanical properties are in general
higher than those of white oak.
The wood works fairly easily with machine
tools, although interlocked grain offers difficulties
in planing and molding. Sapele finishes and glues
well.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and as resistant to preservative treatment.
Sapele is used extensively, primarily in the
form of veneer for decorative plywood
ENTANDROPHRAGMA
Sipo utile
UTILE
dinal surfaces, Luster is high. The wood weighs
about 24 pounds per cubic foot.
Seasoning data are not available, but local
reputation indicates that the wood air dried
rapidly with little or no degrade. The only shrinkage values available are based on one tree tested
from Guatemala. The total shrinkage from green
to ovendry condition was 1.7 percent radially and
4.0 tangentially. The movement between relative
humidities of 65 and 30 percent was 0.4 percent
radially and 0.8 percent tangentially.
The normal wood is easy to work with hand
and machine tools and has good dimensional
stability in use. Tension wood zones may be common in some logs and these are generally responsible for considerable fuzzing and graintearing during machining. Wood from the central
core of the tree frequently contains compression
failures and makes such logs unsuited for peeling.
The heartwood has a good local reputation for
decay and insect resistance and is used for many
construction and general utility purposes as a
substitute for the more expensive cedro (Cedrela).
Available strength values suggest similarity to
gumbo limbo.
The fine dust arising from machining the dry
wood causes irritation of the mucous membranes
of most individuals, but this can be eliminated by
a good sawdust collection system.
The low density and dimensional stability
of guanacaste suggest possible utilization in the
United States for corestock and patterns.
AF
Utile occupies the same African range as the
other related species, principally West and Central.
The heartwood is a uniform reddish- or
purplish-brown and is distinct from the light
brown sapwood. Texture is slightly coarser than
that of sapele. Grain is interlocked and shows a
broader and less uniform stripe pattern on
quartered surfaces than sapele. The wood averages about 41 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons at a moderate rate and shows
a marked tendency toward distortion. The movement of seasoned lumber in service is rated as
medium.
The mechanical properties of utile are generally similar to those of sapele and white oak.
The heartwood is rated as durable and as
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Because of similarity of density and grain
characteristics, the working characteristics are
similar to those of sapele.
Utile is used for decorative veneer, somewhat
interchangeably with sapele.
ENTEROLOBIUM
Guanacaste
CYCLOCARPUM
EUCALYPTUS
Karri
AS
A very large tree limited to Western Australia,
occurring in the southwestern portion of the state.
Karri resembles jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata )
in structure and general appearance. It is usually
paler in color, and, on the average, slightly
heavier (57 pounds per cubic foot).
The timber is said to have a pronounced
tendency to check during seasoning, and under
adverse conditions, the cracks become very deep
in thick pieces. Although much more severe on
the tangential face, checking often appears on
quartersawn material. In spite of the fact that
the grain is generally much straighter than that
of jarrah, considerable trouble from warping is
experienced at times with thin stock Collapse
is a little more prevalent than in jarrah. In kiln
AM
Guanacaste has an extensive range from southern Mexico through Central America into northern South America, including Jamaica and Cuba.
The sapwood is white and sharply demarcated
from the heartwood which occurs in shades of
brown, occasionally with darker colored pigment
streaks. The grain is commonly interlocked and
shows a narrow to wide ribbon stripe on quartered
surfaces. The texture is coarse, the vessel lines
generally showing quite prominently on longitu-
FPL 125
DIVERSICOLOR
24
drying from the green condition, very low temperatures and high humidities are advisable and
periodic steaming treatments are recommended.
Partial air drying before kiln drying is advised,
but care must be taken to prevent checking during
the preliminary air seasoning. It is said that in
kiln drying green material to 15 percent moisture
content the shrinkage is 10 percent tangentially
and 5 percent radially.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Karri is a heavy hardwood possessing mechanical properties of a correspondingly high
order.
The wood is fairly hard to work in machines
and difficult to cut with hand tools. It is generally
more resistant to cutting than jarrah and has
slightly more dulling effect on tool edges. A
fairly clean finish is obtained in most operations,
but the wavy interlocked grain causes picking up
in planing, particularly with a quartersawn
material, and a cutting angle of 15° should be
used.
It is inferior to jarrah for underground use
and waterworks, but where lateral strength is
required, such as in bridges, floors, rafters, and
beams. it is an excellent timber. Karri is popular
in the heavy construction field because of its
strength and availability in large sizes and long
lengths that are free of defects.
EUCALYPTUS
Jarrah
MARGINATA
either in air or kiln drying, but with wide and
thick flatsawn stock care must be exercised.
Partial air drying before kiln drying is recommended; low temperatures and high humidities
are advised when kiln drying from the green
condition, especially in thicker dimensions.
It is reported that in kiln drying green material
to a moisture content of 15 percent, the tangential
shrinkage is about 8 percent and the radial
shrinkage about 5 percent.
Jarrah is a heavy, hard timber possessing
correspondingly high strength properties. It is
resistant to attack by termites and rated as very
durable with respect to fungus attack. The heartwood is rated as extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
As with karri, jarrah is fairly hard to work in
machines and difficult to cut with hand tools.
Jarrah is used for decking and underframing of
piers, jetties, and bridges, and also for piling
and fenders in dock and harbor installations. As
a flooring timber it has a high resistance, but is
inclined to splinter under heavy traffic.
EUXYLOPHORA
PARAENSIS
Pau amarello
AM
Pau amarello is the only member of this genus
and apparently is limited in its distribution to the
eastern and southern portions of the State of Para,
Brazil,
The heartwood is a bright, clear, yellow which
deepens on exposure and is not sharply defined
from the yellowish-white sapwood. Luster is
high. Texture is rather similar to that of birch.
The wood is without odor or taste. The wood
weighs about 48 pounds per cubic foot. The grain
is straight to shallowly interlocked or sometimes
irregular.
No data are available with regard to seasoning
and machinability. but it is presumed that these
qualities must be fairly good, judging from the
esteem this species enjoys in Para. The reported
shrinkage values indicate very uniform dimensional changes in the transverse direction.
Pau amarello is somewhat heavier than yellow
birch or hard maple, but its strength properties
are on a par with the hard maple.
In Brazil, and particularly in Para, pau amarello is used primarily for furniture and flooring.
For flooring it is generally manufactured in the
form of parquet and mixed with darker colored
AS
Jarrah is native to the coastal belt of southwestern Australia and one of the principal timbers of the sawmill industry.
The heartwood is a uniform pinkish to dark
red, often a rich, dark red mahogany hue, turning
to a deep brownish red with age and exposure
to light. The sapwood is pale in color and usually
very narrow in old trees. The texture is even
and moderately coarse. The grain, though usually
straight, is frequently interlocked or wavy. The
wood weighs about 44 pounds per cubic foot. The
common defects of jarrah include gum veins or
pockets which, in extreme instances, separate the
log into concentric shells.
In the kiln drying of jarrah, warping is said to
be the principal cause of degrade. With narrow
boards, such as flooring, checking is not serious
25
wood to produce attractive and rather striking
designs.
There appears to be little opportunity for
utilization in the United States because the local
demand for the wood is considerable and is generally equal to the supply.
FITZROYA
Alerce
CUPRESSOIDES
fine, and uniform. The grain is straight or slightly
interlocked. When the lumber has been carefully
handled and is free of defects and stain, it has a
bright clean appearance with no outstanding
decorative features. Under certain conditions logs
may acquire an unpleasant smell which does not
as a rule persist after the lumber has been
thoroughly seasoned but may become noticeable
again if the wood is rewetted. There have been
reports that workers handling logs or wany lumber may develop a skin irritation which is
believed due to the penetration of the skin by
sharp-pointed fibers in the remains of the inner
hark which are left on the log after debarking.
Washing the hands with plain soap and water is
apparently an effective remedy.
Shrinkage of ramin from the green condition
to a moisture content of 12 percent is reported to
be about 5 percent tangentially and 2.5 percent
radially. In changing from a moisture content of
18 percent to a moisture content of 12 percent
the tangential shrinkage is reported as 2.9 percent and radially as 1.3 percent.
With respect to natural durability ramin is
rated as perishable, but is permeable with regard
to preservative treatment.
The wood seasons readily with little distortion
but with a tendency for end splitting and surface
checking to occur. Many importers, custom
dryers, and users are generally not aware of the
special seasoning and handling requirements of
this species and some heavy losses have been
experienced.
Potential users and processors of ramin should
avail themselves of USDA Forest Service Research Note FPL-0172, “The Seasoning and
Handling of Ramin.” for specific details which
should be helpful in eliminating most of the difficulties encountered in this species. Single copies
are available from the Forest Products Laboratory.
In general, the wood works cleanly with machine
and hand tools and has only a moderate blunting
effect on cutting edges. The wood takes stains
and finishes readily and can be glued satisfactorily. As with most straight-grained wood in
this density class, the wood has a marked tendency to split when nailed.
Ramin can be used for a wide variety of purposes just as hard maple and yellow birch are,
but the major volume being utilized in the United
States at the present time is in the molding
industry.
AM
Like “Parana pine,” alerce is a softwood. The
genus Fitzroya is represented in southern Chile
and adjacent Argentina by the single species F.
cupressoides. Alerce belongs to the Cupressacae
family, which includes the well-known softwoods
referred to as cedar in the United States.
The heartwood is reddish-brown and sharply
defined from the narrow and very light-colored
sapwood. The wood is similar in most respects
to California redwood. The growth rings are
usually narrow and the grain is straight. The
wood averages about 26 pounds per cubic foot.
Alerce is reputed to season readily and with
little or no degrade. The wood machines easily.
Alerce has a very good local reputation for
natural durability.
Limited strength data available for alerce suggest that its properties are generally somewhat
lower than those of redwood.
Alerce is suitable for use for the same purposes
as redwood.
GONYSTYLUS
Ramin
spp.
AS
The genus Gonystylus consists of about 25
species ranging from the Philippines through Indonesia to Malaya. In many areas the trees are
quite common in the fresh water swamps. The
type species of the genus and perhaps the most
important in the export trade is Gonystylus
bancanus, which ranges from the Malay Peninsula
to Sumatra and Borneo.
Ramin may be regarded as a general utility
hardwood which averages slightly heavier than
hard maple and yellow birch and exceeds these
species in practically all strength properties.
Normally there is no visual difference between
the sapwood and heartwood, both are white to
pale straw in color. The texture is moderate,
FPL 125
26
GOSSWEILERODENDRON BALSAMIFERUM
Agba, tola
AF
northern Venezuela, northern Colombia, and
Panama, was for a great many years the only
species used on a large scale. With the near
exhaustion of commercial-size timbers of G.
officinale, the principal species of commerce is
now G. sanctum. The latter species occupies the
same range as G. officinale, but is more extensive and includes the Pacific side of Central
America as well as southern Mexico and southern
Florida.
The heartwood is distinctly green or olivegreen and becomes very dark or even black upon
long exposure. The sapwood is white or yellowishwhite and generally shows distinct green vessel
lines. The texture is very fine. The grain is
strongly interlocked, and shows a narrow and
closely spaced ribbon stripe pattern on quartered
surfaces. Lignum vitae is perhaps the heaviest
commercial wood and averages about 75 to 80
pounds per cubic foot in the thoroughly airdry
condition. The heartwood has a mildly fragrant
odor and a pronounced waxy or oily feel.
The usual strength values have never been
obtained for lignum vitae and this probably stems
from the fact that it is utilized mechanically for
its extreme hardness, durability, and selflubricating properties. The hardness modulus
of lignum vitae is about four times that of hard
maple, and this extreme hardness permits utilization as a self-lubricating bearing material
under relatively heavy loads.
Shrinkage values are also not available, but
because the wood is used primarily for underwater bearings, it must be utilized in its green
or saturated condition and shrinkage values are
of no consequence.
The most important and exacting use of lignum
vitae is for bearings or bushing blocks lining the
stern tubes of propeller shafts of steamships and
submarines. The blocks are machined to conform
to the curvature of the propeller shaft on one
end-grain surface. and on the other side to conform to the curvature of the propeller tube.
Numerous attempts have been made to substitute other hard, heavy woods for use as underwater bearings but none contain the high guaiac
resin content which makes lignum vitae selflubricating and unique for this very exacting
utilization. The genus Bulnesia, which is a closely
related genus belonging to the same plant family
as lignum vitae, is very similar in many respects
but also lacks the high guaiac resin content which
is so essential for this particular use.
Agba is one of the largest trees of the African
forest and is distributed from Nigeria to Angola
and in the western area of the Congo.
The heartwood is a uniform light brown and
the thick sapwood is distinctly paler in color.
The texture is finer than that of mahogany.
Luster is low. Grain is straight to shallowly
interlocked. The wood weighs about 32 pounds
per cubic foot. The wood contains a sticky resin
which may be troublesome in green lumber, but
as a rule well-seasoned lumber is not noticeably
resinous, although it seems that under certain
conditions some exudation may occur. The wood
tends to retain a slightly resinous odor.
The wood can be seasoned fairly rapidly with
little tendency toward splitting and distortion.
Some gum exudation is likely to occur, but this
should not be excessive. The in-service movement of seasoned wood is rated as small.
Agba has the same average density as American
mahogany but its mechanical properties are lower
in practically all properties except shear.
The heartwood is rated as durable and resistant
to preservative treatment.
The wood machines well, finishes readily, and
can be satisfactorily glued.
Agba is suitable for use in both veneer and
solid lumber for many purposes requiring a
relatively light-colored, easy working, and dimensionally stable wood. It serves well for corestock, decorative purposes, moldings, and other
utility purposes.
GUAIACUM SANCTUM
Lignum vitae
AM
Lignum vitae is another of the Latin American
species which has been extensively used practically from the time of discovery of the New World.
The wood was introduced to the medical profession of Europe about 1508 as a specific for many
of the most serious ailments of mankind. Its
reputation was so firmly established that for two
centuries its therapeutic value remained unquestioned. Both wood and resin are medicinally
obsolete except in certain proprietary decoctions.
Guaiacum officinale, native to the West Indies.
27
GUAREA CEDRATA
Bosse, guarea
& THOMPSONII
(G. ehie) belong to the same botanical genus as
bubinga, they differ rather markedly with respect
to their color. The heartwood of benge is a yellowbrown to medium brown with gray to almost
black striping. Ehie heartwood tends to be a more
golden brown and is striped as in benge. Ehie
appears to be the more attractive of the two
species.
The technical aspects of these species have not
been investigated, but both are moderately hard
and heavy. Benge is fine textured and in this
respect similar to birch; the texture of ehie is
somewhat coarser. Both are straight grained or
have slightly interlocked grain.
These woods are as yet little known in the
United States, but would provide both veneer and
lumber for decorative purposes and furniture
manufacture.
AF
The two commercially important species of
African guarea occur throughout West Africa
and the Congo region.
The two Guareas show slight difference in
technical properties, but for most purposes for
which these species are used the differences are
unimportant. It is general practice to market
them under a single trade name.
Guarea cedrata heartwood is a pinkish-brown,
similar to mahogany, but with a finer texture. It
has a pleasant cedar-like odor which disappears
with time. Luster is high. Grain is interlocked.
Guarea thompsonii is similar to G. cedrata, but is
slightly heavier and the grain tends to be straighter. The wood averages about 39 pounds per
cubic foot. Guarea cedrata weighs about 36 pounds
per cubic foot.
Both species appear to season fairly rapidly
and with very little tendency to warp and split.
Exudation of resin may cause some degrade in
the seasoned appearance of the wood. Movement
of the seasoned wood in service is reported to be
small for both species.
Both Guarea species have a slightly higher
average density than American mahogany and
their strength properties are proportionately
higher.
The heartwood is rated as durable and extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Both species work fairly easily and smooth
surfaces can be obtained in most operations.
Guarea cedrata is likely to have a more pronounced dulling effect on cutting tools because of
its silica content than G. thompsonii, in which
silica is lacking. The silica content of G. cedrata
is very low and the maximum value reported is
0.12 percent of the ovendry weight of the wood.
Both species are utilized in veneer for decorative purposes and also in the solid form for
furniture, interior trim, and boat construction.
Because the seasoned timber may retain volatile
resins, it should not be used for instrument
cases--a situation similar to that of Spanishcedar (Cedrela).
GUIBOURTIA ABNOLDIANA
Benge, ehie
& EHIE
GUIBOURTIA spp.
Bubinga, kevazingo
The woods of Guibourtia demeusei, G. pellegriniana, and G. tessmannii are similar in general
character and are known as bubinga in the
Cameroons and kevazingo in Gabon and French
Equatorial Africa. The usual name applied in the
United States is bubinga. The distribution of these
species overlaps. but G. tessmannii is reported
to be most common in the Cameroons and is the
principal source of the local bubinga, while G.
pellegriniana is most common in Gabon and the
source of kevazingo. Guibourtia demeusei is
widely distributed from southeastern Nigeria
through the Cameroons, Gabon, and the Congo
region.
Bubinga, when freshly cut, is red to reddishbrown with purple veining, but after exposure it
becomes a yellow to medium brown with a pronounced pinkish or reddish cast. The veining then
becomes less conspicuous and the wood bears a
superficial resemblance to some types of rosewood. The grain is generally interlocked.
Although moderately hard and heavy, the wood
is reported to saw without difficulty and finish
well. It is used mostly in the form of veneer for
decorative paneling, and in the solid form for
articles of turnery.
AF
Although benge (Guibourtia arnoldiana) and ehie
FPL 125
AF
28
HURA CREPITANS
Jabillo, possumwood
HYMENAEA COURBARIL
Courbaril, guapinol
AM
Jabillo, the usual Spanish common name for
this species, ranges from the West Indies and
southern Mexico through Central America southward to northern Bolivia and Eastern Peru,
Included in this range is that of Hura polyandra
which is the more common species in Mexico and
northern Central America. The latter species can
be differentiated only when in flower, and in all
other respects the two species are similar.
The wood is yellowish-white to yellowish-brown
with no sharp distinction between sapwood and
heartwood. In Surinam the lumber trade distinguishes a “dark” and “white” variety of the wood.
The “dark” variety is said to be of better quality
than the ‘white” type, which is reputed to saw
wooly, pick up in planing, and to be prone to
warping and checking. The ‘dark” variety is also
said to make up only a small percentage of the
total stand volume. Luster is high. Texture is
medium to coarse, the vessel lines usually
prominent. Grain is interlocked. The wood
averages about 26 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is moderately difficult to season: it
tends to dry rapidly which prevents the formation
of blue stain, but also causes a variable amount
of warp and checking. Shrinkage and movement
are low. The wood is relatively stable in use and
undergoes only moderate dimensional movement
in response to atmospheric changes. The strength
properties of jabillo are slightly superior to those
of yellow-poplar, with the exception of stiffness.
Normal wood machines easily and little or no
difficulty is encountered. The presence of tension
wood zones results in fuzzy and torn grain surfaces in planing, particularly on quartered surfaces. The wood finishes well and glues readily.
It can be readily peeled and sliced for veneer,
but tension wood zones tend to produce excessive
fuzziness and buckling of the veneer in drying.
The wood is very variable with respect to
decay resistance and very susceptible to termite
attack. Freshly cut logs are susceptible to blue
stain and spraying with preservatives and prompt
conversion are indicated. The unpainted wood has
good weathering characteristics.
Normal wood should provide a very good corestock because of its low density and good dimensional stability. Locally it is used for boxes,
crates, cheap carpentry, and interior trim.
AM
The genus Hymenaea consists of about 30
species occurring in the West Indies and from
southern Mexico, through Central America, into
the Amazon Basin of South America. The best
known and most important species is H. courbaril,
which occurs throughout the range of the genus.
The majority of the species are known only from
the Amazonian area. The following description
applies only to H. courbaril.
The sapwood is gray-white and usually quite
wide The heartwood is sharply differentiated and
varies through shades of brown to an occasional
purplish cast. The texture is medium. Grain is
interlocked, and luster is fairly high. The heartwood is without distinctive odor or taste. The
wood weighs about 50 pounds per cubic foot.
Courbaril is rated as moderately difficult to
air season. Although courbaril is a heavier wood
than hickory or white oak, its shrinkage values
are lower than those of the latter species. The
in-service movement that may be expected from
courbaril is less than that encountered in native
United States furniture species.
The strength properties of courbaril are quite
high but very similar to those of shagbark hickory, a species of lower specific gravity.
In decay resistance, courbaril is rated as very
durable to durable.
Courbaril is considered to be moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but it
can be finished smoothly and it turns and glues
well. It compares favorably with white oak in
steam-bending behavior.
Courbaril has been little utilized in the United
States, but should find application for a number
of uses. Its high shock resistance recommends it
for certain types of sporting equipment, or as a
substitute for ash in handle stock. It promises to
be a suitable substitute for white oak in steambent boat parts. It makes an attractive veneer
and should also find application in the solid form
for furniture. The thick sapwood would provide
an excellent source of blond wood.
INTSIA spp.
Ipil, merbau
AS
The genus Intsia consists of six or seven
29
species distributed through the Philippines, Indonesia, Indo-China, Malaya, many of the Pacific
Islands, and Malagasay. Two widespread species
contribute mainly to commercial supplies: Intsia
bijuga and I. palembanica.
The individual species of Intsia are not identifiable due to the range of variability shown by
the individual species in color, texture, and weight.
The timber, wherever available locally, is regarded with high esteem because of its many
desirable properties.
The sapwood is sharply defined, white to pale
yellow and up to 3 inches in width. The heartwood
varies from a light brown to red-brown or dark
brown. The grain is narrowly interlocked and
occasionally wavy; texture is moderately coarse
to coarse and even. Luster is usually low, and the
wood may have a somewhat oily or waxy feel.
The occurrence of yellow deposits in the vessels
is characteristic of this genus and serves to
separate it from similar-appearing woods. The
heartwood ranges in weight from about 46 to
60 pounds per cubic foot, and averages about 50
pounds.
The available strength data show Intsia to be
on a par with our native hickory species, although
it averages somewhat heavier.
Intsia bijuga is reported to be readily kiln
dried from the green condition with little degrade,
except for occasional moderate twist in some
boards.
The only reported kiln drying schedule is given
below and is designed for 4/4 material.
Moisture content
change points
( percent )
Green
30
20 to final
Dry bulb
temperature
(°F.)
130
140
160
ported for I, palembanica are practically identical.
The green timber offers moderate difficulty in
sawing and may be accompanied by pinching and
sawdust packing. With airdry material, sawing
is fairly difficult due to the density of the wood.
With straight-grained material the machined surfaces are quite good, but interlocked grain may
cause some difficulties on quartersawn surfaces,
Boring and turning properties are reasonably
good.
Intsia is one of the most sought-after of local
timbers, being second only to chengal (Balanocarpus heimii) in popular favor in Malaya. Among
the special merits of the timber are its low
shrinkage, freedom from degrade in seasoning,
freedom from defects, and its natural durability
in certain circumstances. Locally the timber is
used for outdoor structural work and ties, but its
pleasing appearance when finished and low shrinkage promotes it to the class of good quality
ornamental timbers suitable for paneling, flooring, and furniture.
JUGLANS spp.
Nogal, tropical walnut
Under the designation tropical walnut are
included two species, Juglans neotropica of
Peru and J. olanchana of northern Central
America. These species are mentioned here
because of the widespread interest in walnut from
sources where lumber costs are decidedly lower
than in the United States, and because so little
technical information is available.
The wood of the tropical species is generally
darker than that of typical American blackwalnut
and the texture (pore size) is somewhat coarser.
From the limited number of specimens available
for examination it would also appear to be somewhat lighter in weight. Logs frequently show
streaks of lighter color in the heartwood and this
characteristic has caused some concern about
the potential utility of the tropical wood. Another
feature that is mentioned whenever tropical walnut
is under discussion is the extreme slowness with
which the wood dries. It has been stated that lumber to 5/4 thickness can be dried at the same
rate as black walnut, but thicker stock takes an
appreciably longer period of time and in the
thicker stock the wood is prone to collapse and
honeycomb.
Tropical walnut peels and slices readily, but
Wet-bulb
depression
(°F.)
15
20
30
This schedule is said to be tentative. With this
schedule, 4/4 flatsawn stock requires 6 days to
dry to 12 percent moisture content, 4/4 quartersawn stock requires 8 days, and material airdried to 25 to 30 percent moisture content requires
about 4 days. Stacks should be weighed, and a
short steaming treatment of about 4 hours should
follow drying.
For wood of rather high density the shrinkage
is very low: values reported for I. bijuga are
4.4 percent tangential and 2.7 percent radial from
the green condition to ovendry. The values re-
FPL 125
AM
30
the veneer is also said to dry more slowly than
normal. Tension wood and compression failures
have been observed in a number of specimens
and these invariably came from the central core
of the tree.
It appears that these species require a rather
intensive study, particularly with respect to
seasoning and machining, in order to ascertain
their true potential.
KHAYA spp.
Khaya, “African mahogany”
the presence of tension wood zones creates difficulties in obtaining smooth surfaces. The wood
has good finishing characteristics and can be
readily glued.
“African mahogany” is used extensively in both
veneer and lumber form and for many of the same
purposes as American mahogany, except for pattern stock.
KOOMPASSIA
Kempas
AM
MALACCENSIS
AS
The genus Koompassia consists of two species
occurring in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.
K. malaccensis is the most widespread species
and K. excelsa, known as tualang, is limited to
the northern portion of the Malay Peninsula.
Kempas is a hard, heavy wood of rather distinctive appearance. The heartwood is brick-red
when freshly cut and darkens on exposure to an
orange-red with numerous yellow-brown streaks
due to the soft tissue associated with the pores.
The sapwood is white or pale yellow, clearly
defined-and about 2 inches wide in large trees.
The average weight is about 54 pounds per cubic
foot. The wood is rather coarse-textured with a
bright, natural luster. The grain is typically
interlocked
A fairly common defect is the presence of
streaks or veins of hard, stone-like tissue that
may be 1/4 inch wide radially, several inches in
tangential width, and may extend for several feet
along the grain. Well-developed defects of this
kind are sources of mechanical weakness in
construction timber and may give rise to serious
splitting during seasoning. The wood has a slightly
acidic character and may tend to promote the
corrosion of metals.
Kempas is reported to season fairly well, but
the zones of abnormal tissue which are not an
uncommon feature may give rise to serious splitting during seasoning. A factor of some importance is the low ratio of radial to tangential
shrinkage, which probably accounts for the
absence of serious splits and excessive degrade
in seasoning, notwithstanding a tendency to rapid
drying.
Kempas heartwood is rated not at all durable
in contact with the ground under Malayan conditions because it is readily attacked by termites.
It is also said to be “not particularly resistant”
to wood-rotting fungi. Kempas is reported to
The “African mahogany” of the United States
lumber trade is the product of two West African
species, Khaya ivorensis and K. anthotheca.
Khaya ivorensis occurs in the rain forests from
the Ivory Coast to the Cameroons and Gabon;
Khaya anthotheca occurs in the same general
area but inhabits the regions of lower rainfall
than K. ivorensis and its range extends eastward
to Ugonda. Occasionally brought into the United
States is K. grandifoliola, a tree of the intermediate zone forests where rainfall is low. This
wood is appreciably heavier than that of the other
species.
The heartwood varies from a light pinkishbrown to a deep reddish-brown shade, not always
sharply defined from the yellowish-brown sapwood. The texture is similar to or only slightly
coarser than that of American mahogany. Although
some of the timber is straight grained. it is
usually interlocked and produces a stripe figure
on quartered surfaces. The wood weighs about
32 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly and with little
degrade, When strongly developed tension wood
is present, serious distortion or collapse may
occur during seasoning. The in-service movement of seasoned wood is classified as small.
“African mahogany” is in the same density
range as American mahogany, but is somewhat
lower in bending strength and in compression
parallel to the grain. ‘African mahogany’ is somewhat superior with respect to side hardness and
shear.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and as extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood machines fairly easily, although the
usual difficulties may be expected when planing
quartered lumber. As with many other species,
31
azobe particularly well suited for all forms of,
heavy duty construction.
absorb preservatives radially and penetration is
good. Absorptions of 7 pounds of creosote in
seasoned timber have been obtained with comparatively mild treatments. As with many other
species, appreciable variation in absorption and
penetration may occur. The presence of abnormal
tissue is a distinct disadvantage, as it appears to
inhibit penetration while accounting for relatively
heavy absorption.
The timber offers a fairly high resistance to
cutting in most machining operations. Its working
properties are said to be somewhat similar to
the heavier species of Dipterocarpus.
Kempas is essentially a heavy construction
timber, and when exterior utilization is anticipated the wood must be treated with preservatives.
This species is not likely to gain favor in the
United States trade because of the common
occurrence of abnormal tissue which may present numerous problems in conversion.
LOPHIRA ALATA
Azobe, ekki
LOVOA TRICHILIOIDES
Lovoa, tigerwood
Lovoa trichilioides, the most important of this
small African genus, is distributed from Sierra
Leone through West Africa into the Congo and
Angola. Information relative to this species is
also found in the literature under the synonymous
name Lovoa klaineana.
The he art wood is a yellow-brown and occasionally marked by dark streaks which consist
of traumatic gum ducts. The sapwood is gray or
buff colored, up to 3 inches wide and sharply
defined. Texture is similar to that of mahogany
or slightly finer. Grain is narrowly and closely
interlocked, producing a characteristic and lustrous ribbon stripe on quartered surfaces. The
wood weighs about 34 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to season fairly rapidly
without much degrade. It is easy to work with
machine tools, finishes well, and provides satisfactory glue joints.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
but extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Lovoa is within the density range of mahogany
and its strength properties are generally similar
in all respects.
Lovoa is used in the United States primarily
in the form of veneer for decorative purposes.
AF
A large tree of the heavy rain forest occurring
in West Africa from Sierra Leone to Nigeria and
the Cameroons.
The heartwood is a dark red or deep chocolate
brown showing a mottled appearance due to the
rather conspicuous white deposits in the vessels.
The much paler sapwood is about 2 inches thick,
and sharply defined. Parenchyma bands produce
a distinctive “partridge” pattern on flatsawn
surfaces. Texture is coarse. Grain is broadly
interlocked The wood is very hard and heavy,
averaging between 59 and 69 pounds per cubic
foot.
Azobe is an extremely refractory species with
respect to seasoning. Moisture loss is extremely
slow and severe splitting and distortion are likely
to occur in thin stock. This species is commonly
utilized in the form of heavy timbers where kiln
drying is not economically feasible.
Azobe is a very heavy wood and its strength
properties are in the very high range.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Because of its high density, azobe is very difficult to saw and machine. Generally the wood is
sawn only, because it is commonly used in
rather large sizes.
The high strength and natural durability make
FPL 125
AF
MANSONIA ALTISSIMA
Bete, Mansonia
AF
Mansonia is represented in west tropical Africa
by the single species altissima, which occurs in
Ivory Coast, Ghana, and southern Nigeria.
The heartwood varies from a light to dark
gray-brown, frequently with a purplish cast. The
wood often shows alternating lighter and darker
bands. The texture is fine and uniform
Grain is generally straight: luster is low. The
wood weighs about 37 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly and well with
very little distortion The movement of seasoned
wood in service is rated as medium
Mansonia works well in all machining operations
and produces good surfaces under standard con-
32
ditions. The fine dust arising from certain
machining operations is reported to be irritating
to certain individuals.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood bears a resemblance to some grades
of European walnut and has been used as an
alternate for this species in some instances. It
is little used in the United States in either solid
or veneer form.
MITRAGYNA
Abura
CILIATA
is M. paraensis of the Amazon Delta and M.
megistosperma (Nato) which occurs in the Pacific
forests of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. Mora
excelsa ranges from the Guianas to Trinidad and
the Orinoco River Delta, while M. gonggrijpii
is limited to Surinam and Guyana.
The wood of mora and morabukea Is almost
identical in appearance, structure, weight, and
strength properties. The sapwood is yellowishgray, and may be up to 6 inches in thickness.
The heartwood is sharply defined from the sapwood and varies from a yellow-brown through
red brown to dark brown. Luster is medium.
Texture is variable from medium to coarse. The
grain is interlocked. showing a narrow to broad
stripe on quartered surfaces and is also sometimes wavy or irregular. The wood may have a
slightly sour odor and a bitter taste. The latter
may become evident when the fine sawdust arising
from machining comes in contact with the lips.
The wood is very heavy, weighing about 64 pounds
per cubic foot.
The wood dries very slowly with appreciable
degrade. Shakes which are prevalent in the freshly
sawn timber tend to extend during seasoning. Surface checking develops rapidly and degrade from
cupping and twisting is likely to be serious. In
kiln drying trials, considerable warp and some
collapse is reported even when the wood is dried
under a prolonged mild schedule.
The shrinkage is high and movement is also
rather high, both species being rather unstable
in use.
Mora is appreciably heavier and stronger than
white oak and in this respect its properties are
more nearly like those of greenheart.
The wood is moderately difficult to work and
tends to spring in sawing. It finishes to smooth
surfaces but pick up and chipped grain are likely
‘to occur with interlocked and irregular grain.
Timbers containing boxed heart are likely to split
rather badly, and for this reason such timbers
should be sawn to exclude the pith region.
The heartwood is rated as durable with respect
to decay and insect attack Morabukea is reported
to be highly resistant to drywood termites and
mora is rated as being more susceptible in this
respect. Mora sapwood is readily impregnated
with preservatives, but the heartwood is very
resistant to impregnation. The timber is not
resistant to marine borers.
The Mora species are utilized for heavy duty
and durable construction.
AF
Abura ranges from Ivory Coast through West
Africa and southward to the Congo and Angola.
The heartwood is a uniform light yellowishbrown or pinkish-brown. The sapwood is generally not differentiated from the heartwood.
Texture is fine and rather similar to that of birch.
Luster is low. Grain is usually straight or may
be irregularly interlocked. The wood weighs about
35 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons rapidly and well with
little or no degrade. The in-service movement is
classified as small.
The strength properties of abura are generally
similar to those of American mahogany.
The wood is rated as nondurable and as moderately resistant to preservative treatment.
Abura works fairly well in all machining
operations, but dulling of teeth in sawing seasoned
lumber may be appreciable. Silica content up to
0.24 percent has been reported for this species.
The wood takes stains and finishes readily and
can be glued without difficulty.
Abura is rarely encountered in the United
States lumber trade, probably due to the sawing
difficulty and because it is not considered an
attractive wood.
MORA spp.
Mora, Morabukea, Nato
AM
The genus Mora consists of about nine species
ranging from the West Indies through northern
South America into the Amazon Basin. The principal species in northern South America are
Mora excelsa (Mora) and M. gonggrijpii (Morabukea), which are described below. Another
species of some importance in this general area
33
NAUCLEA DIDERRICHII
Bilinga, opepe
Under Chilean conditions the wood is reported
to be durable.
The strength properties of rauli are generally
similar to those of silver maple.
The wood works easily, takes stains and finishes
readily, and presents no difficulties in gluing.
In Chile, the wood is used for every imaginable
purpose. The demand locally is appreciable and
it is unlikely that any large volume will be
available for export.
AF
Bilinga is a widely distributed species ranging
from Sierra Leone through tropical West Africa,
the Congo, and into East Africa. Most of the
available literature is found under the synonymous name Sarcocephalus diderrichii.
The heartwood is a uniform and rather distinctive yellow or orange-brown. The pale colored
sapwood is about 2 inches thick and distinctly
defined. The texture is coarse. Luster medium
Grain is usually interlocked and irregular, producing a variety of patterns on quartered surfaces.
Quartersawn lumber is reported to season
fairly well with little checking and warping, but
flatsawn lumber may suffer considerable degrade
from checking, splitting, and distortion. The inservice movement of seasoned lumber is classified as small.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
moderately resistant to preservative treatment.
Bilinga is reported to work with moderate ease
in most machining operations, but irregularity of
grain is likely to cause difficulty in planing
operations.
Bilinga is somewhat heavier on the average
than white oak and its strength properties are
proportionately higher.
Since the wood has appreciable strength and
natural durability it would appear to be fitted for
heavy duty construction as in dock work. The
color of the wood and rather “wild” grain effect
have mitigated against the acceptance of bilinga
in the fancy veneer trade.
NOTHOFAGUS
Rauli
PROCERA
OCHROMA
Balsa
AM
Balsa is widely distributed throughout tropical
America from southern Mexico to southern Brazil
and Bolivia.. Ecuador has been the principal source
of lumber since the time the wood gained commercial importance. Most of the literature relative to balsa refers to the species as Ochroma
lagopus, but apparently the correct and proper
designation is Ochroma pyramidale.
The wood is a white to a very pale gray and
may show a pinkish cast. The texture is coarse
and the vessel lines generally show prominently,
Grain is straight or very shallowly interlocked.
The wood rays appear prominently on quartered
surfaces because of their darker colored contents. Luster is high and the wood has a very
unique “velvety” feel. The wood selected for use
in the United States averages about 11 pounds per
cubic foot. Balsa is the lightest and softest wood
on the commercial market.
Because the imported lumber is rather carefully selected in Ecuador primarily on the basis
of density, little difficulty is encountered in further drying upon arrival in the United States.
Some lumber is known to contain “pockets” of high
moisture content and these are likely to collapse
in drying, but because most of the lumber is predried in Ecuador, such lumber is generally excluded in the grading process.
Because of its light weight, balsa can be easily
worked, but sharp tools are required to prevent
crumbling under the cutting edges.
Balsa, within the density ranges imported, is
highly efficient where buoyancy, insulation against
heat or cold, or absorption of sound and vibration
are important considerations. It is one of the best
energy absorbers known. It is practically impossible to “waterlog” balsa and this is particularly
true in the lower range of densities. Only the
AM
Rauli is a south temperate zone member of the
beech family (Fagaceae) occurring in Chile and
adjacent Argentina between 36° and 40° south
latitude. It is the most important of the several
species of Nothofagus occurring in the region.
The heartwood is a uniform reddish-brown
resembling the darker shades of sweetgum, but
with a more distinctive reddish cast. The texture
is very fine. The grain is straight. Luster is low.
The wood weighs about 34 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to season rather slowly
but with little degrade.
FPL 125
PYRAMIDALE
34
vessels. which are few in number per crosssectional area, are capable of absorbing solutions.
The principal uses of balsa include all types of
flotation gear, core stock in metal-faced sandwich construction, sound modifiers, aircraft
models, and novelties. It is particularly important as an insulator in the transportation of
liquified gases which are at extremely low temperatures. At these low temperatures the strength
properties of the wood are higher than those
obtained at normal room temperature.
OCOTEA RODIAEI
Greenheart
AM
The range of greenheart is very limited and
commercial quantities occur only in Guyana
(British Guiana). This species has also been
found in Surinam and adjacent areas of Brazil.
The heartwood is light to dark olive green and
may be marked with streaks of black or brown.
The sapwood is a pale yellowish-brown or greenish, about 1 or 2 inches wide, and merges
gradually into the heartwood. Local distinctions
between so-called varieties (known as black,
brown, yellow, etc.) are based on variation in
the superficial appearance of the wood from different trees or even different parts of the same
tree. There is no reliable evidence that the useful properties of the timber are related to these
color variations. The texture is moderately fine
and uniform; grain is straight. The wood weighs
about 64 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons very slowly and with considerable degrade, particularly in the thicker
sizes. Kiln drying from the green conditions cannot be regarded as economical for thick lumber,
and in practice, lumber over 1 inch in thickness
would have to be partially air dried. Distortion is
not serious, but checking and splitting tend to be
severe during seasoning. The British Laboratory
reports that the shrinkage from the green condition to a moisture content of 12 percent is about
3.0 radially and 4.5 percent tangentially. The
movement is rated as medium
Greenheart is fairly difficult to work with both
hand and machine equipment because of its high
density, It has an appreciable dulling effect on
tool cutting edges, although it is not a silicaaccumulating species. Where smooth surfaces are
essential, it is important to keep planer knives
in top condition, because even mild dullness is
likely to produce a fibrous or slightly torn surface. The fine dust arising from machining the
seasoned wood may produce allergic responses in
certain individuals, which are manifested in the
form of irritations of the mucous membranes.
The strength properties of greenheart are of
an exceptionally high order even when its weight
is taken into account. Its only deficiency is that
it splits easily, but only in the radial direction
and in this respect offers about the same resistance as oak.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Greenheart is used principally where strength
and resistance to wear are required. Uses include ship and dock building, lockgates, wharves,
piers, jetties, engine bearers, planking, flooring,
bridges, and trestles.
OCOTEA RUBRA
Determa, wana, louro vermelho
AM
Ocotea rubra is distributed throughout the
Guianas and the lower Amazon region of Brazil.
This species is closely related botanically to
greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei) but differs in many
respects. The wood is distinctive and this, in
conjunction with range limitations, makes it possible to obtain the timber true to name.
The heartwood is a uniform reddish-brown
separated from the sapwood, which is narrow and
dull gray or pale yellowish-brown. Texture is
coarse; grain is interlocked; luster is high on
quartered surfaces. The wood weighs about 38
pounds per cubic foot. It is very similar in
general appearance to red lauan and tangile of
the Philippines.
The wood seasons at a moderate rate with
some tendency to check and split. The lumber
can be kiln dried using the same schedule as
that for the red lauans. Thick stock is extremely
difficult to dry even with prolonged kiln runs.
Shrinkage is low, and the wood is very stable in
use.
Ocotea rubra averages somewhat heavier than
the Philippine lauans, but its strength properties
on the basis of Yale tests would place it on a par
with the species belonging to the “light red”
group. Tests conducted in Holland on heavier
wood than that tested at Yale gave values which
were equal to those of tangile.
The wood is easy to work and working qualities
35
species occurring in Southeast Asia. The principal species in the United States lumber trade is
P. plicata of the Philippines and Borneo. The
other species of Parashorea produce appreciably
heavier timbers and these are not considered in
this description. In the United States, bagtikan
may be encountered under its usual common name
or more frequently with the species comprising
the light-red group of lauans. The heartwood is
gray to straw-colored or very pale brown and
sometimes has a pinkish cast. It is not always
clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The wood
weighs about 34 pounds per cubic foot. The texture
is similar to that of the light-red group of
Philippine lauans. The grain is interlocked and
shows a rather widely spaced stripe pattern on
quartered surfaces.
Kiln drying is fairly rapid. Principal degrade
encountered is twist in the thinner stock, which
may be attributed to the wide interlocking of the
grain and is most apparent in flatsawn lumber.
With respect to strength, Philippine bagtikan
exceeds the lauans in all properties. Its natural
durability is very low and it is resistant or
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood works fairly easily with hand and
machine tools and has little blunting effect on tool
cutting edges. In machining tests conducted at the
Forest Products Laboratory, bagtikan was rated
as being intermediate, together with red lauan,
in all or most of the tests conducted. In these
tests, results for bagtikan were exceeded by
apitong and tanguile, but were superior to those
for mayapis, almon, and white lauan.
Bagtikan is used for many of the same purposes
as the Philippine lauans, but in the solid form
and in thin stock it is best utilized in the quartersawn condition to prevent excessive “working”
with changes in moisture conditions of service.
It is perhaps most useful as a veneer for plywood
purposes. In Britain it is best known as a decking
timber which has been specially selected for this
use in vessels.
are said to be comparable with those of moderately
dense mahogany, Ordinary conditions of machining produce generally good results. The wood can
be glued satisfactorily,
Ocotea rubra is rated as durable to very
durable with respect to fungus attack and is
included among the species that exhibit considerable resistance to marine borer attack. The
wood shows excellent weathering characteristics
and is highly resistant to moisture absorption,
surpassing teak in this respect. The abundance
of tyloses in the vessels of the heartwood suggests that it may be extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Ocotea rubra is one of the more common and
most widely used timbers within its region of
growth. It is readily available in considerable
volume and large sizes, and this, coupled with
its ease of working and inherent natural durability, provides a timber which is used for a
multitude of purposes under both interior and
exterior applications.
Ocotea rubra appears to be a species of considerable potential which has been overlooked by
the United States market. It should find considerable application in both the solid and veneer
form in the decorative wood field and particularly in the boat-manufacturing field.
OXYSTIGMA
Tchitola
OXYPHYLLUM
AF
Tchitola occurs in tropical Africa from Nigeria
through the Cameroons and Gabon to the Congo
and Cabinda. This species was formerly known
as Pterygopodium oxlphyllum.
This species is closely related botanically to
cativo (Prioria) of the American tropics ‘and the
wood is similar in most respects. The wood of
tchitola averages about 38 pounds per cubic foot
and is thus somewhat heavier than cativo. Available shrinkage values for tchitola indicate that
its total shrinkage is about twice that of cativo.
Tchitola is not likely to become a significant
species on the United States lumber market.
PARASHOREA PLICATA
Bagtikan, white seraya
PARATECOMA PEROBA
Peroba de campos
Peroba de campos occurs in the coastal forests
of eastern Brazil ranging from Bahia to Rio de
Janeiro. It is the only species in the genus.
The heartwood is variable in color, but generally is in shades of brown with tendencies
AS
The genus Parashorea consists of about seven
FPL 125
AM
36
toward casts of olive and reddish color. The sapwood is a yellowish-gray, clearly defined from
the heartwood. The texture is relatively fine and
approximates that of birch, The grain is commonly interlocked and may show a broken stripe
or curly and wavy figure. Luster is high. The
wood averages about 47 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood appears to season readily and with
negligible splitting. Distortion is not generally
serious, although it may become severe in thin
stock with very irregular grain. The British
Laboratory reports that the shrinkage from the
green condition to a moisture content of 12 percent is 3.5 percent tangentially and 2.0 percent
radially.
The wood machines easily, but when smooth
surfaces are required particular care must be
taken in planing to prevent excessive grain tearing
of quartered surfaces because of the presence of
interlocked or irregular grain. There is some
evidence that the fine dust arising from machining
operations may produce allergic responses in
certain individuals.
Peroba de campos is heavier than teak or white
oak and is proportionately stronger than either
of these species.
The heartwood is rated as very durable with
respect to fungus attack and is rated as resistant
to preservative treatment.
In Brazil, the wood is used in the manufacture
of fine furniture, flooring, and decorative paneling.
The principal use in the United States is in shipbuilding, where it serves as an alternate for
white oak for all purposes except bent members.
The wood is classified as a poor “bender.”
PELTOGYNE spp.
Purpleheart, amaranth
wood is an off-white to gray-brown and may be
rather wide. The texture is fine to medium. Luster
is low. Grain is straight, but occasionally interlocked or irregular. The wood is very heavy,
averaging about 52 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to season well and fairly
rapidly with little degrade.
Purpleheart is moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but smooth surfaces
are readily obtainable.
The heartwood is very durable, but very resistant to preservative treatment.
Because of the high average density of purpleheart, its strength properties are also very high
and in general greatly exceed the requirements
of the uses to which it is put. In side hardness,
for example, purpleheart is about twice as hard
as white oak.
In the United States, purpleheart is utilized in
the form of sliced veneer for decorative inlay
work and in solid form for specialty items of
turnery.
PERICOPSIS ELATA
Afrormosia, kokrodua
AF
Afrormosia is native to Ivory Coast, Ghana,
Cameroon, and the Congo. The range of this
species is rather extensive, but the principal
production is limited to the boundary area of
Ivory Coast and Ghana. This species was formerly known under the botanical designation Afrormosia elata.
The freshly cut heartwood is a yellowishbrown. turning darker upon exposure to a pale
brown or medium brown and losing most of its
yellowish cast. The sapwood is narrow, usually
less than 1 inch in width, and slightly lighter in
color than the heartwood The grain may be
straight or slightly interlocked, the latter producing a narrow stripe pattern when the wood is
quartersawn. Flatsawn lumber may show a distinctive pattern arising from concentric zones
of darker colored wood. The texture is fine to
medium and only slightly coarser than that of
birch. The wood weighs about 43 pounds per cubic
foot.
The wood is reported to season rather slowly,
but very well, and with little degrade. The total
shrinkage for kokrudua is small and the inservice movement is rated as small.
Kokrodua is readily workable with both hand
AM
The genus Peltogyne is essentially limited to
tropical South America and extends northward to
Panama and Trinidad. The majority of the species
are found in the Amazon Basin. The genus consists of about 27 species.
Purpleheart is unique among tropical American
hardwoods because of its distinctive purplish or
violet-colored heartwood. When freshly cut, the
heartwood is brown, but with exposure it assumes
the purplish hue which darkens with time. Because
of the number of species that may be encountered,
variation with respect to depth of coloration,
texture, and density is to be expected. The sap37
and machine tools. Attention must be paid to
proper cutting angles when planing lumber with
interlocked grain. The heartwood is classified as
moderate in steam bending.
The heartwood is rated as resistant to very
resistant with respect to decay organisms and it
shows a substantially higher level of resistance
than is generally found in the white oaks.
Kokrodua averages heavier than white oak and
its strength properties are also higher, with the
exception of shear where the two species are
similar.
Principal uses of kokrodua in the United States
are in boat construction, interior trim, and
decorative veneer. Perhaps its most important
utilization in the United States is in the boatbuilding industry where it serves as an alternate
for teak.
PHOEBE POROSA
Imbuia
PINUS CARIBAEA
Caribbean pine
Caribbean pine occurs along the Caribbean side
of Central America from British Honduras to
northeastern Nicaragua. It is also native to the
Bahamas and Cuba. It is primarily a tree of the
lower elevations.
The heartwood is a golden brown to red brown
and distinct from the sapwood which is 1 to 2
inches in thickness and a light yellow. The wood
has a strong resinous odor and a greasy feel.
The wood averages about 51 pounds per cubic
foot.
The lumber can be kiln dried satisfactorily
using the same schedule as that for ocote pine.
Caribbean pine is easy to work in all machining
operations but the high resin content may necessitate occasional stoppages to permit removal of
accumulated resin from the equipment.
Caribbean pine is an appreciably heavier wood
than slash pine (Pinus elliottii), but the mechanical properties of these two species are rather
similar.
Caribbean pine is used for the same purposes
as the southern pines of the United States.
AM
Imbuia is native to the “Parana pine” forest of
southeastern Brazil in the States of Parana and
Santa Catharina.
The heartwood varies through shades of brown
from yellowish to chocolate. The sapwood is gray
and usually distinct from the heartwood. The texture approximates that of birch and maple. Grain
is straight to curly and wavy. Luster is high.
The wood weighs about 36 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to be easy to dry. The
ratio of tangential to radial shrinkage is fairly
high and would suggest some difficulty with warp,
but this has not been reported in the available
literature.
The strength values for imbuia are very much
like those for black cherry.
The wood is reported to be easy to work
and finishes well, but care must be taken in planing lumber with irregular grain to ensure smooth
surfaces. The fine sawdust produced in machining
operations is reported to be very irritating to
certain individuals.
Imbuia is used in Brazil for furniture, cabinet
work, interior trim, paneling, flooring, and many
other purposes. It has been utilized to a limited
extent in the United States in the form of veneer
for decorative paneling. Supplies of imbuia are
apparently limited and the demand in the consuming centers of southeastern Brazil exceeds availability.
FPL 125
AM
PINUS OOCARPA
Ocote pine
AM
Ocote pine is a species of the higher elevations
and occurs from northwestern Mexico southward
through Guatemala into Nicaragua. The largest and
most extensive stands occur in northern Nicaragua
and Honduras.
The sapwood is a pale yellowish-brown and
generally up to 3 inches in thickness. The heartwood is a light reddish-brown. Grain is straight.
Luster is medium. The wood has a resinous odor,
and weighs about 41 pounds per cubic foot.
Ocote pine is classed among the woods easy to
season and is comparable in this respect with
shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). It air seasons at
a fast to moderate rate with a minimum of seasoning defects.
The strength properties of ocote pine are comparable in most respects with those of longleaf
pine (Pinus palustris).
Decay resistance studies show ocote pine heartwood to be very durable with respect to attack
by a white rot fungus and moderately durable with
38
respect to brown rot.
Ocote pine is comparable to the southern pines
in workability and machining characteristics.
Ocote pine is a general construction timber and
is suited for the same uses as the southern pines.
POMETIA spp.
Kasai, malugai
occasions some of the lumber has entered the
United States in mixture with red lauan.
PRIORIA
Cativo
AS
COPAIFERA
AM
Cativo ranges from Nicaragua to Colombia and
the timber stands of greatest volume occur in
Panama and Colombia. This is one of few tropical
American species that may be said to form “pure”
stands. The genus consists of a single species.
The wood is generally quite uniform in color
and varies from a gray to pinkish or distinctly
reddish. The “heartwood” generally consists of a
small core of black wood which is appreciably
harder than normal wood and may possibly be of
traumatic origin. This central core may be surrounded by a zone of irregularly pigmented black
or brown lines, and sometimes only the pigmented lines are present. The grain is straight
and the texture is uniform and comparable to
that of mahogany. The luster is low, and the wood
is without distinctive odor or taste. The wood
averages about 28 pounds per cubic foot.
The normal or light-colored wood of cativo can
be dried easily and rapidly with little or no
degrade. Lumber containing pigmented zones
requires careful seasoning to prevent collapse and
honeycombing within these areas. It is essential
that high temperatures be used in the final stages
of kiln drying because the gum content of the
lumber is materially reduced and what remains
is not so prone to “bleed” onto the surfaces of
the wood. Cativo has very good dimensional
stability.
Cativo is classed as a nondurable wood with
respect to both decay and insect attack. Logs
are attacked quickly unless converted in a very
short time or protected by preservatives.
Normal cativo lumber machines easily in all
operations. Wood that is above average indensity
is likely to contain appreciable quantities of
tension wood, which makes ripping difficult because of the pinching effect on saws and the
resulting burning of the teeth.
Cativo and yellow-poplar have about the same
average weight, but yellow-poplar is stronger
in practically all properties; cativo exceeds
yellow-poplar only with respect to hardness.
In Colombia, cativo is used for general utility
purposes in both the solid form and in plywood,
In the United States, it is used for furniture and
Four species comprise the genus Pometia in
Southeast Asia. Their range is from the Philippine Islands, through Indonesia, and Malaysia to
Ceylon and includes many of the Pacific Islands.
The most widespread and perhaps most important species are P. pinnata and P. tomentosa,
The common name kasai is applied to the various
species occurring in Malaysia and the name
malugai is applied to the Philippine species.
The sapwood is 2 to 3 inches in thickness and
more or less clearly differentiated from the light
red-brown to dark red-brown heartwood. Grain
is straight to widely interlocked and inclined to
be wavy. Luster is low, and medium-sized to
moderately large vessels appear as coarse
scratches on longitudinal surfaces and constitute
a characteristic feature of these surfaces. The
appearance of the wood from quartered surfaces
reminds one of the lauan species. The wood weighs
about 40 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to season well, but flatsawn lumber is likely to twist excessively, particularly if wide interlocking grain is present.
No kiln schedules are reported for this species.
Strength tests reported for two species of
Pometia indicate similarity to results for native
United States oak species,
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
when exposed to the weather or in contact with
the ground. Tie service tests conducted on kasai
in Malaya have given excellent results. The ties
were treated by a full-cell process arid average
absorptions of 4.1 pounds per cubic foot were
obtained using a mixture of 50 percent creosote
and 50 percent diesel fuel. After 13 years, only
21 percent of the ties were rejected, The wood is
described as fairly easy to work and in this
respect should be quite similar to red lauan and
bagtikan.
The woods of this genus are unknown in the
United States trade, but if available in commercial
quantity could be used for the same purposes as
the red lauans from the Philippines. On infrequent
39
cabinet parts (concealed), as plywood and lumber
core, and other similar uses. The most important
utilization in the United States is in the form of
resin-stabilized veneer used in particular by the
automotive industry as a pattern material because of its exceptional dimensional stability.
PTEROCARPUS
Muninga
ANGOLENSIS
be correlated with conditions of growth. Two
forms are generally recognized: yellow narra
which is golden-brown to brown, and red narra
which is red-brown to distinctly red. Yellow
narra apparently comes from trees of moderate
lo rapid growth and is lower in density than red
narra which is associated with slow growth and
darker color. The fresh wood or newly exposed
surfaces are distinctly aromatic.
The grain is interlocked and produces a stripe
figure on quartered surfaces. Because the wood
is ring-porous, a growth ring pattern is produced
on flatsawn surfaces and the latewood portion may
also show a fine feathering pattern produced by
the bands of parenchyma tissue.
The trees are nowhere abundant. Because of its
long established reputation, the wood is much in
demand locally for high-grade furniture, decorative case goods, and novelly items. Veneer grade
logs are used for both rotary and sliced veneer.
Quartered veneer is generally available, but it is
in the costly price range.
AF
Muninga has a rather extensive range from
Angola and the Congo, through much of East
Africa and the northern parts of the Union of
South Africa. It is a tree of the drier open woodlands.
The heartwood varies through shades of brown
from light lo dark, frequently with a reddish or
purplish cast; darker streaks are often present.
Upon exposure the wood lends to assume a uniform golden brown color, but retains the streaks
of darker color. The sapwood is very light
colored and sharply demarcated from the heartwood. The texture is coarse and even. Grain is
interlocked or irregular. The wood averages about
41 pounds per cubic foot in weight. Muninga is
generally lighter in weight than the related species
of the Orient.
The wood is reported to season readily but
rather slowly, and there is little tendency toward
splitting and distortion. The movement of seasoned wood is classified as small.
The wood works readily, although irregular
grain may produce some difficulties in planing.
The wood finishes well and can be readily glued.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and as
resistant to preservative treatment.
Muninga is utilized lo a limited extent in the
United States in the form of veneer for decorative
purposes.
PTEROCARPUS
Narra
INDICUS
PTEROCARPUS
SOYAUXII
African padauk
African padauk occurs in Nigeria, Cameroon,
French Equatorial Africa, and the Congo.
The heartwood of this species is striking because of its deep red color. The sapwood is a
grayish-white, up lo 8 inches thick, and very
sharply defined. The texture is coarse and somewhat uneven; the pore lines generally are quite
conspicuous. The grain may be straight, but more
commonly it is interlocking, which produces a
narrow stripe pattern on quartered surfaces. The
wood averages about 44 pounds per cubic fool in
weight.
The lumber is reported to machine remarkably
well, and it finishes and glues easily. The wood
has a low total shrinkage and apparently exhibits
little movement in service.
In the United States it is utilized only as veneer
for decorative purposes.
As
One of the classic furniture woods of the Orient.
particularly the Philippines. The wood is highly
regarded because it combines high decorative
values, dimensional stability, and resistance lo
decay and insects, with ease of seasoning, machining, and finishing.
Narra varies appreciably with respect to color
and weight and these variations are presumed to
FPL 125
AF
PYCNANTHUS
Ilomba
ANGOLENSIS
AF
Ilomba is a tree of the rain forest and ranges
from French Guinea and Sierra Leone through
west tropical Africa lo Uganda and Angola. This
40
of 0.86.
The tropical oaks are difficult lo machine, due
mainly lo their high density. They can be finished
smoothly on tangential surfaces, but have a tendency toward “tear-out” on quartered faces.
The wood is very difficult to season without
degrade, and in air seasoning the lumber is very
prone lo severe checking and collapse. Shrinkage
is high and the ratio of radial to tangential
shrinkage is also high.
Utilization of the tropical oaks is very limited
al present due to difficulties encountered in the
drying of the wood The major volume is used in
the form of charcoal. It is reported that Quercus
costaricensis and Q. eugeniaefolia from Costa
Rica are being manufactured into staves which
are exported to Spain where they are manufactured
into wine barrels.
species also referred lo in the literature under
the synonymous name Pycnanthus kombo.
The wood is a grayish-while lo pinkish-brown
and in some trees may be a uniform light brown.
There is generally no distinction between heartwood and sapwood. The texture is moderately
coarse and even. Luster is low. Grain is generally straight. The wood weighs about 32 pounds
per cubic fool. This species is generally similar
lo banak (Virola), but is somewhat coarser textured.
The wood is rated as perishable, but permeable
lo preservative treatment. The general characteristics of ilomba would suggest similarity to
banak in working properties, seasoning, finishing,
and utilization.
This species has been utilized in the United
States only in the form of plywood for general
utility purposes.
QUERCUS spp.
Encino, roble, oak
SHOREA spp.
Lauans, “Philippine mahogany”
AM
AS
The term “Philippine mahogany” is applied
commercially in the United States to Philippine
woods belonging to three genera--Shorea, Parashorea, and Pentacme. The group is further subdivided into types based on heartwood color as
follows:
The oaks are abundantly represented in Mexico
and Central America with about 150 species,
which are nearly equally divided between red and
while oak groups. Mexico is represented with over
100 species and Guatemala with about 25; the
numbers diminish southward to Colombia, which
has two species. To the northern visitor the oaks
of tropical America are hardly recognizable by
their leaves, although they would certainly be
recognized whenever acorns are available. The
usual Spanish name applied is encino or roble
and no distinction is made in the use of these
names, nor are the different species given
distinctive names.
The wood of the various species is in most
cases heavier than the species of the United Slates
and is diffuse-porous like the live oak of the
South, rather than ring-porous like the commercial red and while oaks. The chemical test
used for differentiating between the commercial
red and while oaks serves equally well for the
tropical species.
Strength data are available for only four species
and the values obtained fall between those of white
oak and the southern live oak or are equal to
those of the latter. The average specific gravity
for these species is 0.72 based on volume when
green and weight ovendry, with an observed
maximum average for one species from Guatemala
Dark red:
red lauan (Shorea
negrosensis)
tanguile (Shorea
polysperma )
Tianong (Shorea
agsaboensis)
Dark reddish-brown
to brick red
Red to reddishbrown
Light red to light
reddish-brown
light red:
Almon (Shorea almon)
Bagtikan (Parashorea
plicata)
Mayapis (Shorea
squamata)
White Iauan (Pentacme
contorta & P.
mindanensis )
41
Light red to
pinkish
Grayish-brown
Light red to
reddish-brown
Grayish to very
light red
The species within each group may be shipped
interchangeably when purchased in the form of
lumber or veneer. Mayapis of the light red group
is quite variable with respect to color and frequently shows exudation of resin. For this reason,
some purchasers specify that mayapis be excluded from their shipments. Resin ducts are
common to all of the Shorea woods and occur in
tangential bands. Normally they are quite large
and may be very conspicuous, particularly in the
wood of the dark colored group where the white
deposits of the canals are prominently defined
These have been mistaken for zones of decay and
other anomalies.
The lauans, as a whole, are coarser textured
than mahogany (Swietenia ) of the American tropics
or the African khaya (Khaya). All species of
lauan show varying degrees of interlocked grain.
The strength properties of the dark red group
are generally on a par with those of American
mahogany.
Studies conducted at the Forest Products Laboratory showed that the average decay resistance
was greater for American mahogany than for
either the African khaya or the Philippine lauans.
Among the Philippine species, the woods classified as dark red were usually more resistant
than those of the light red group.
In machining trials at the Forest Products
Laboratory, the lauans as a whole appeared to
be about equal to the better hardwoods found in
the United States. Tanguile was consistently better
than average in all or most of the tests conducted
Mayapis, almon, and white lauan were consistently
below average, with red lauan and bagtikan being
rated as intermediate.
Kiln drying can be accomplished without particular difficulty. The shrinkage and swelling
characteristics of the lauans are comparable to
those found in the oak and maples of the United
States.
Principal uses include interior trim, paneling,
flush doors, plywood, cabinets, furniture, siding,
and boat construction. The use of the woods of
the dark red group for boat building in the
United States exceeds in quantity that of any
other imported species.
SIMAROUBA AMARA
Aceituno, marupa
species distributed from southern Florida, the
West Indies, and southern Mexico through central
America to Bolivia and Peru. The most important
species is Simarouba amara, commonly known in
Central America as aceituno and in Brazil as
marupa.
The wood is yellowish-white or a uniform light
yellow with no distinction between sapwood and
heartwood. Texture is medium and uniform. Grain
is usually straight: luster is high The wood is
without odor, but has a mild to decidedly bitter
taste. The wood weighs about 27 pounds per cubic
foot.
The wood dries easily and rapidly with little
degrade. Dimensional stability is very good. No
kiln drying schedules are reported in the literature,
but presumably the lumber could be dried using
the same procedure as for mahogany.
Although Simarouba is classified as a hardwood,
its average density and strength properties are
on a par with those of ponderosa pine.
The heartwood is not durable in contact with
the ground. being attacked readily by decay fungi
and termites. The wood can be readily treated
with preservatives.
Simarouba is easily worked with both hand and
machine tools. The wood takes all types of finishes
readily and is easy to glue.
Locally the wood is used primarily for interior
applications of general utility. Its properties Suggest more extensive utilization in the form of
core stock, patterns, and moldings. Simarouba
has been used in the United States to a limited
extent for piano keys because of its grain characteristics and good dimensional stability.
STERCULIA OBLONGA
Okoko, yellow sterculia
Yellow sterculia ranges from Ivory Coast
through West Africa into Cameroon and Gabon.
The heartwood ranges from a creamy yellow
to a light yellowish-brown. The sapwood, which
may be up to 8 inches thick, is not clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Texture is rather
coarse. Grain is broadly interlocked The high
wood rays produce an attractive and very lustrous pattern on true radial surfaces. The banded
parenchyma produces a “partridge” pattern on
flatsawn surfaces, but is not distinctive because
of the lack of contrast. The wood weighs about
49 pounds per cubic foot.
AM
The genus Simarouba consists of about six
FPL 125
AF
42
The wood is reported to season slowly and
with a marked tendency toward surface checking.
End splitting may be troublesome and cupping
may be a serious defect in thin flatsawn lumber.
The in-service movement of seasoned wood is
classified as medium.
Yellow sterculia averages heavier than white
oak and its strength properties are proportionately
higher.
The heartwood is rated as nondurable, but
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood can be worked fairly readily provided
sufficient attention is given in planing operations.
The wood finishes well and can be glued satisfactorily,
This species has received some attention in
the United States veneer trade because its light
color permits ease of staining and finishing to
meet current requirements. Some of the wood is
sliced on the quarter to produce the unusual
figure combination resulting from the effect of
the wood rays and interlocked grain.
SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA
Mahogany
sional stability is excellent.
Mahogany is very easy to work and produces
very good results in all operations. Because of
its excellence, it is generally used as a standard
for the rating of other tropical species. Tension
wood zones, when present, are likely to produce
fuzzy or torn grain surfaces in planing operations.
The strength properties of mahogany are generally similar to those of paper birch and black
cherry.
In evaluations of decay resistance at the Forest
Products Laboratory, mahogany showed a higher
average level of decay resistance than the other
species commonly called mahogany (nonSwietenia species). Most tests showed it to be in
the resistant or very resistant class. The West
Indian species and Peruvian wood was, in general,
much better than the Central American wood in
this respect.
Mahogany is used wherever an attractive and
dimensionally stable wood is required. Some of
the more important applications are for home
and office furniture, architectural woodwork and
paneling, radio and television cabinets, models
and foundry patterns, boats and ships, sculpture,
turning and carving, and numerous other uses.
AM
Three species are recognized, hut Swietenia
macrophylla provides the major volume of the
timber on the commercial market. It occurs from
southern Mexico, through Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela into the Amazon Basin to
northern Bolivia and eastern Peru. Swietenia
mahagoni occurs in the West Indies and southern
Florida; S. humilis is native to the Pacific side
of southern Mexico and extends southward to
Costa Rica. The two latter species are generally
heavier woods and, because of the limited volumes
available, are utilized almost entirely within their
areas of growth.
The freshly sawn heartwood is a yellowishwhite to salmon pink, but after exposure to air
and light it changes to a rich golden brown. Wood
from Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru tends to be darker
colored and slightly heavier than that originating
in Central America, Luster is high. Texture is
medium and uniform. Grain is usually straight,
but certain trees may produce a wide variety of
figure such as fiddleback, blister, stripe, swirl,
and mottle. The wood is without odor or taste. It
weighs about 32 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons easily and rapidly with
minimal degrade. Shrinkage is low, and dimen-
TABEBUIA ROSEA
Apamate, mayflower
AM
Apamate ranges from southern Mexico through
Central America to Venezuela and Ecuador. The
name roble is frequently applied to this species
because of some fancied resemblance of the wood
to that of oak (Quercus); roble is the Spanish
name for oak. Much of the information relative
to this species appears in the literature under
the name Tabebuia pentaphylla.
The sapwood is a yellowish-white when freshly
cut and becomes a pale brown upon exposure.
The heartwood varies through the browns, from
a golden to dark brown. The heartwood and sapwood are not always clearly differentiated Texture is medium, and luster is medium. Grain is
closely and narrowly interlocked. The tangential
alinement of the pores associated with parenchyma
produces a rather distinctive “feather” pattern
on flatsawn surfaces. Heartwood is without distinctive odor or taste. The wood weighs about
38 pounds per cubic foot.
Apamate may be air seasoned at a fast rate
with little or no checking and only slight warping.
43
In its air seasoning properties it compares with
yellow-poplar. Total shrinkage for apamate is
intermediate between mahogany and black walnut
and in-service movement anticipated would be
equal to that of yellow-poplar.
Apamate has excellent working properties in
all machine operations. It finishes attractively in
natural color and takes finishes with good results.
The mechanical properties of apamate are
higher than average for most species of comparable density. Apamate averages lighter in weight
than the average of the American white oaks, but
is comparable with respect to bending and compression parallel to grain. The white oaks are
superior with respect to side hardness and shear.
The heartwood of apamate is generally rated
as durable to very durable with respect to fungus
attack; the darker colored and heavier wood is
regarded as more resistant than the lighter
forms.
Within its region of growth, apamate is used
extensively for furniture, interior trim, doors,
flooring, boat building, ax handles, and general
construction. The wood veneers well and produces an attractive paneling.
TABEBUIA spp. (Lapacho series)
Lapacho, ipe
is remarkably low for a wood of this density
and the in-service movement is also rather low.
Lapacho is moderately difficult to machine
because of its high density and hardness. Glassy
smooth surfaces can be readily produced, The
lapachol in the wood, when especially abundant,
can be a nuisance in sawing or turning and may
cause a mild form of dermatitis in some
individuals.
Being a very heavy wood, lapacho is also very
strong in all properties and in the air dry condition is comparable to greenheart.
Lapacho is highly resistant to decay and insects,
including both subterranean and drywood termites.
It is, however, susceptible to marine borer attack.
The heartwood is impermeable, but the sapwood
can be readily treated with preservatives.
Lapacho is used almost exclusively for heavy
duty and durable construction. Because of its
hardness (two to three times that of oak or
apitong) and very good dimensional stability, it
would be particularly well suited for heavy duty
flooring in trucks and box cars.
TABBIETIA spp.
Lumbayau, menkulang
AM
A genus of about four species in the Philippines,
Indonesia, and Malay Peninsula. Two species that
have some degree of commercial value within
their respective range are Tarrietia javanica,
the lumbayau of the Philippines, and T.
simplicifolia, the menkulang of Malaya. The
genus provides good quality timber but is generally not marketed under its own name, being
included with other “red-colored” timbers of
medium weight: with meranti in Malaya and red
lauan in the Philippines. Small quantities have
entered the United States in mixture with lauan.
The heartwood is of various shades of brown,
red brown to quite red or dark red brown. The
lighter colored sapwood may be 2 to 5 inches
wide, and is not always clearly differentiated.
Grain is straight to shallowly and widely interlocked. Texture is slightly coarse to moderately
coarse and even. The wood is generally similar
in appearance to the red lauan species, and
weighs about 47 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is reported to be easy to dry but
requires careful stacking to prevent warping.
The shrinkage values are on a par with those of
the red lauans. No kiln drying schedule is re-
The lapacho group or series of the genus
Tabebuia consists of about 20 species of trees
and occurs in practically every Latin American
country except Chile. The common name adopted
there is lapacho, which is derived from the yellowgreen compound lapachol which occurs in the
heartwood vessels of this group. Lapachol is
usually visible on planed surfaces confined to
the vessel lines, or in some specimens may
cover the entire surface during sawing. In the
presence of alkaline solutions the Iapachol turns
a bright red.
The sapwood is relatively thick, yellowishgray or gray brown and sharply differentiated
from the heartwood. which is a light to dark
olive brown. The texture is fine. Grain is closely
and narrowly interlocked Luster is medium. The
wood is very heavy and averages about 64 pounds
Per cubic foot. Thoroughly air-dry specimens of
heartwood generally sink in water.
The wood is fairly easy to season and dries
rapidly with minimal warping, and checking,
despite its very high density, The total shrinkage
FPL 125
AS
44
ported in the literature, although the United
States schedule T6-D2 suggested for the red
lauans should be applicable to these species.
Both menkulang and lumbayau are said to be
easy to work and finish but, because of the
presence of silica, they have a decided dulling
effect on tool cutting edges. The silica content
values reported are generally under 0.50 percent
of the dry weight of the wood.
Vertical intercellular canals of the traumatic
type are not uncommon in the wood. They are
usually larger than the pores and are made conspicuous on all surfaces because of their darkcolored, gum-like deposits. These canals constitute a defect where appearance is of prime
importance.
Although harder on tools than red meranti and
red lauan, the timbers should find utilization for
much the same purposes. The wood is easy to
veneer and would find a ready outlet in the plywood trade.
TARRIETIA UTILIS
Niangon, whismore
operations, but interlocked or irregular grain
may produce some degree of difficulty on quartered surfaces. Wood which is particularly waxy
or oily is likely to give trouble in finishing and
gluing.
Niangon is used in Europe as a general construction timber and has found some application
in the ship-building industry.
TECTONA
Teak
GRANDIS
AS
Teak is native to India, Burma, Thailand, IndoChina, and Indonesia, particularly in Java, Plantations have been developed within its natural range
as well as in many tropical areas of Latin America
and Africa.
The heartwood varies from a yellow brown to
a rich brown and frequently may show streaks of
dark color. These pigmented zones eventually
fade with age. The wood has a coarse texture,
is usually straight-grained, and has a distinctly
oily feel. The wood has a mild but somewhat
unpleasant odor, which may be accentuated when
wetted or heated.
Teak seasons well but rather slowly. It requires
more than ordinary care in determining both the
initial and final moisture contents, as variations
in the drying rates of some boards are occasionally great. The wood is very liable to color change,
but the color becomes uniform within a reasonable
time after kiln drying. Total shrinkage is exceptionally small in teak
Although generally not used in the United States
where strength is of prime importance, the
values for-teak are generally on a par with those
of our native oaks.
Teak is rated as very durable with respect to
decay and insect attack and extremely resistant
to preservative treatment.
Teak is somewhat variable but generally works
with moderate ease with hand and machine tools.
Its dulling effect on cutting edges is sometimes
considerable, and in general may be considered
as appreciable, For extensive machining runs,
the use of special wear-resistant Steel is necessary to ensure economical operation. Silica
content is variable and values up to 1.4 percent
have been reported. The wood can be finished and
glued satisfactorily, although some prefinishing
treatments may have to be considered to ensure
good bonding of finishes and glues.
AF
Tarrietia utilis is native to the rain forests of
West Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone to
Cameroon and Gabon. It is not reported to occur
in Nigeria.
The heartwood varies from a pale pinkishbrown to a red brown. The sapwood, which may
be up to 3 inches wide, is not always clearly
differentiated from the heartwood. Texture is
moderately coarse. Luster is medium to low.
Grain is interlocked, generally showing a widely
spaced stripe pattern on quartered surfaces. The
high wood rays are rather prominent on true
radial faces. The heartwood has a characteristic
waxy or oil feel, which is most pronounced in the
darker colored wood. The wood averages about
39 pounds per cubic foot.
Niangon is reported to season fairly rapidly
and well. The movement of seasoned lumber in
service is classified as medium.
Niangon has a slightly lower average density
than white oak and its strength properties are
generally lower, except in compression parallel
to grain and side hardness where they are similar.
The heartwood is rated as moderately durable
and extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
The wood works fairly well in all machining
45
Intrinsically, teak is one of the most valuable
of all woods, but its use in the United States is
limited by high cost. Teak is unique in that it
does not cause rust or corrosion when in contact
with metal; hence, it is extremely useful in the
shipbuilding industry. It is currently used in the
construction of expensive boats, furniture, decorative objects, and as veneer for decorative
plywood.
TERMIINALIA IVORENSIS
Emeri, framire, idigbo
wood shows considerable variability in weight
and compression failures are common in the
wood of lower densities. The average weight may
be taken as 34 pounds per cubic foot. The grain
varies from straight to shallowly interlocked or
irregular. The texture is moderately coarse and
even.
The wood seasons rapidly and with only minimal degrade. Movement of seasoned wood is
classified as small.
The mechanical properties of limba are similar
to those of emeri. Low-density wood should be
avoided where bending strength is important,
because of the prevalence of compression failures
in wood of this type.
The wood is rated as nondurable and as moderately resistant to preservative treatment.
Limba works readily with both hand and machine
tools, finishes easily and can be glued very
satisfactorily.
Limba is suitable for many types of interior
use, and in the United States it is used primarily
in the form of decorative plywood. Selected limba
plywood is sold in the United States under the
copyrighted name korina.
AF
Emeri ranges from French Guinea through
Ivory Coast, Ghana, southern Nigeria into Cameroon.
The wood is yellowish or light yellowish-brown
and generally shows no clear distinction between
the heartwood and sapwood. The texture is medium
to fairly coarse. Luster is medium. Grain is
straight to interlocked. The wood is unusually
variable in weight, and this is attributed in part
to the prevalence of light-weight timber from the
center of the tree. The recorded range is 23 to
46 pounds per cubic foot, but for sound timber
the range is usually 30 to 39 pounds with an
average of about 34 pounds.
The lumber seasons rapidly and with only
minimal degrade. The in-service movement of
seasoned wood is classified as small.
The mechanical properties of normal emeri are
very similar to those of mahogany. The heartwood
is rated as durable and extremely resistant to
preservative treatment.
The wood is easy to work with machine tools,
finishes readily, and can be glued satisfactorily.
Emeri is utilized primarily for furniture,
interior trim, and decorative paneling.
TERMINALIA
SUPERBA
Limba, “Korina”
TETRABERLINIA
Gola
AF
Gola is known presently only from Liberia.
The names “African pine” and “Liberian pine”
have been applied to this species, but because it
is a hardwood and not a pine, these names are
most inappropriate and very misleading. The name
gola, which was proposed by the College of Forestry at Monrovia, Liberia, is adopted here.
The heartwood is light reddish-brown and is
distinct from the lighter colored sapwood, which
may be up to 2 inches thick. The wood is moderately coarse textured. Luster is medium.
Grain is interlocked, showing a narrow stripe
pattern on quartered surfaces. The wood weighs
about 39 pounds per cubic foot.
Tests made at the Forest Products Laboratory
indicate no potential difficulties in the machining
of gola. It also peels and slices very well.
Gola is a very recent newcomer to the timber
market and its potential has yet to be developed.
Its workability and relatively light color should
permit utilization in both the solid and veneer
form for both utility and decorative purposes.
AF
Limba is a widely distributed species ranging
from Sierra Leone to the Congo and Angola.
The wood is ordinarily a uniform grayish-white
or light yellowish-brown. The sapwood is ordinarily indistinct or not clearly differentiated from
the heartwood, but may be up to 6 inches thick.
Some logs contain an irregular dark heart with
gray-brown or nearly black markings that produce an attractive appearance, As in emeri, the
FPL 125
TUBMANIANA
46
TIEGHEMELLA
Makore
HECKELII
AF
Obeche and American basswood have about the
same specific gravity, but American basswood is
somewhat stronger in bending and compression
parallel to grain. In side hardness and shear the
two species are similar.
The wood IS rated as nondurable and resistant
to preservative treatment. Obeche works readily
in all machining operations, but because of the
low density of this wood, sharp knives are essential for the production of smooth surfaces. The
wood finishes well and glues readily,
In the United States, obeche is used primarily
as veneer core.
This monotypic genus is distributed in West
Africa from Sierra Leone to Southern Nigeria.
References to this species may also be found in
the literature under the synonymous names
Mimusops heckelii and Dumoria heckelii.
The heartwood color varies from a pinkishor purplish-brown to dark blood-red. The rather
drab appearing sapwood may be 2 to 3 inches
thick. Texture is fine and uniform; luster is
medium. Grain is usually straight, but individual
trees may have interlocked or irregular grain
which produces a broken stripe pattern on quartered surfaces. A silica content of 0.24 percent
has been reported for this species. The wood
weighs about 39 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons at a moderate rate with
little degrade. The movement of seasoned wood
is classified as small.
The strength properties of makore are about
intermediate between those of American mahogany
and white oak.
Makore machines rather easily, although blunting of saw teeth is particularly noted in the sawing
of seasoned lumber. The fine machining dust is
reported to be irritating to some individuals.
The heartwood is rated as very durable and
extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Makore has been used in the United States to
a limited extent, generally in the form of figured
veneer. The wood may be too dark for decorative
use in this country, at least at this time.
TRIPLOCHITON SCLEROXYLON
Obeche, wawa, samba
TURRAEANTHUS
Avodire
AFRICANUS
AF
Avodire has a rather extensive range from
Sierra Leone eastward to Cameroon and southward to the Congo and Angola. The Ivory Coast
is reported to be the principal source of export
logs.
The wood is a cream-white color that darkens
to a golden yellow. There is no distinction between heartwood and sapwood. Texture is uniform
and similar to that of primavera. Grain may be
straight, interlocked, wavy, or with other irregularities that produce a variety of highly attractive
figures. Such figured material compares favorably with that of Chloroxylon (satinwood), although
avodire is not so finely textured. Luster is satiny.
The wood is without odor or taste. The average
weight is about 34 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly, but has a
tendency to undergo a certain amount of degrade
from warping. The in-service movement of seasoned wood is classified as small.
The wood is rated as nondurable and extremely
resistant to preservative treatment. Avodire is
relatively easy to work with machine tools,
although the usual difficulties maybe encountered
in planing lumber with irregular grain. The wood
finishes readily and is very easy to glue.
Avodire is somewhat heavier than American
mahogany and its strength properties are slightly
higher.
Avodire is a well-known decorative veneer and
has been utilized for this purpose for many
decades.
AF
Obeche is distributed through the Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon. This species is
unusual in that its occurrence is rather localized
within the range but markedly gregarious.
The wood is nearly white to pale straw colored
with no distinction between sapwood and heartwood. The texture is moderately coarse and even.
The grain is typically interlocked. The wood
weighs about 24 pounds per cubic foot.
The lumber seasons very rapidly and very well
with only minimal degrade. The in-service movement of the seasoned wood is classified as small.
47
VIROLA spp.
Banak
AM
VOCHYSIA spp.
San Juan, yemeri
The genus Virola consists of about 40 species
distributed from British Honduras and Guatemala
southward through Central America to Ecuador,
northern South America, and the Amazon Basin
to northern Bolivia and eastern Peru. The species
contributing the greatest volume to the lumber
trade are Virola koschnyi of Central America
and V. sebifera and V. surinamensis of northern
South America, principally in the Amazon Basin.
The wood is usually a pinkish-brown or grayishbrown and is not differentiated into distinct zones
of heartwood and sapwood. Because of the abundance of starch throughout the cross section, it
must be regarded as a “sapwood” species. The
texture is medium to coarse and uniform; grain
is straight, and luster is medium The wood
weighs about 33 pounds per cubic foot.
Banak is reported to be difficult to kiln dry
because it is prone to all seasoning defects.
However, it is also stated that it can be kiln
dried satisfactorily to a moisture content of
15 percent in 3 to 4 days. During the initial
stages of drying from the green condition shrinkage is appreciable and a ratio of radial to
tangential shrinkage of 3 to 1 may prevail. For
in-service conditions the ratio is about 1 to 1.5,
which is on a par with that of yellow-poplar,
Banak machines well in all operations, but
fuzzing and grain tearing are to be expected when
zones of tension wood are present. The wood
finishes readily and is easily glued.. It is rated
as a first class veneer species.
It is rated as nondurable, being readily attacked
by stain, decay, and insects unless precautionary
measures are strictly adhered to from the time
of felling to completion of drying.
This species is also subject to bacterial attack
which may result in the formation of odoriferous
compounds which may persist even in the finished
plywood. (See under Ceiba samauma).
Banak is in the density range of yellow-poplar
and its strength properties are quite comparable.
Banak is well suited for the manufacture of
plywood, veneer, particleboard, and lumber.
Large volumes are being utilized in the United
States for many purposes with the major volume
of the lumber going into the molding industry.
FPL 125
AM
The genus Vochysia consists of about 55
species in Latin America with the majority
occurring in northern South America and the
Amazon Basin. Four species are native to Central America and the best known and perhaps
most important is Vochysia hondurensis. This
discussion is limited to the Central American
wood, but for the most part is applicable to the
South American species of similar density.
The heartwood is grayish-white, up to 5 inches
wide, and more or less differentiated from the
heartwood, which varies from a light brown to a
pale reddish-brown. The texture is moderately
coarse and uniform. Luster is medium Grain is
interlocked and shows a rather widely spaced
stripe pattern in quartered surfaces. The wood
weighs about 30 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood seasons fairly rapidly with little
tendency to check or split, but with pronounced
twisting or cupping when the lumber is flatsawn.
The green lumber has a very high moisture content, generally in excess of 200 percent. Collapse
may occur in the drying of thick stock and
particularly in the zones of tension wood. The
ratio of radial to tangential shrinkage in the
initial stages of drying may be as high as 1 to
6, and as a consequence drying must proceed
carefully and slowly. Quartersawing of the lumber
or quarter slicing of the veneer would practically
eliminate seasoning degrade and greatly improve
the utilization potential. Radial shrinkage of
yemeri is very low and the movement radially for
in-service conditions would be about half of that
encountered in our native species such as hard
maple, white oak, and yellow-poplar.
Yemeri is in the density range of cottonwood
and eastern white pine and is comparable in most
strength properties. except in hardness where its
values are appreciably higher.
The heartwood can be rated at most as only
moderately durable with respect to fungi and is
not resistant to insects and termites. Both sapwood and heartwood are permeable and could be
readily treated with preservatives.
Machining tests made on San Juan lumber at
the Forest Products Laboratory rated the wood
rather low in most operations. The majority of
48
the test specimens were rejected for excessive
surface roughness, which was attributed to tension
wood streaks. The normal wood works very easily
and with only minimal grain-tear on quartered
surfaces. The wood finishes readily and poses no
gluing problems.
Yemeri has been little utilized even locally
because of its tendency to distort during seasoning. Effective utilization requires that the lumber
be quartersawn or veneer sliced on the quarter
to obviate seasoning distortion and also to utilize
to the fullest extent the extremely low radial
shrinkage. Expected in-service radial movement
of the unfinished wood would be about 0.8 percent.
It should be a very good wood for core stock and
other uses.
VOUACAPOUA
Acapu
AMERICANA
durability, being rated as highly resistant to decay
and insect attack, including termites.
Acapu has been used for all types of heavy duty
and durable construction, but because of its
relative scarcity and high value it is utilized
primarily for parquet flooring, interior trim,
paneling, furniture, and cabinet work.
AM
Vouacapoua is a small genus of four species of
trees confined to the Guianas and northern Brazil.
The most important and best known species is
V. americana, which reaches its best development in the State of Para, Brazil.
The sapwood is cream colored and usually
narrow. The heartwood is dark brown or reddishbrown and usually shows a distinctive pattern.
the so-called “partridge” produced by the fine,
pale brown parenchyma lines. Luster is medium
Texture is medium. Grain is straight or occasionally interlocked. The wood is very heavy, weighing
about 59 pounds per cubic foot.
The wood is rated as moderately difficult to
air season and dries at a moderate rate with
only slight distortion or checking. Seasoning
degrade is said to be appreciably reduced by
slower drying procedures. A kiln drying schedule
is not available. Total shrinkage of acapu is low
for a wood in its density class and the values
are lower than those of white oak. Acapu is
reported to be a stable wood in service.
The wood has high strength properties, in
general much higher than required for its present
utilization
The wood is moderately difficult to work because
of its high density. Acapu saws readily with no
appreciable dulling effect and smooth surfaces
are obtained in planing.
The heartwood has an excellent reputation for
49
Table I.
British and Suggested U.S. Kiln
Schedules for Imported Woods
Botanical name
FPL 125
British
4/4-6/4
Albizia lebbek
Albizia ferruginea
Alstonia congensis
Anacardium excelsum
Anisoptera spp.
Antiaris spp.
Araucaria angustifolia
Aspidosperma spp.
Aucoumea klaineana
Berlinia
spp.
Brachystegia spp.
Calophyllum brasiIiense
Calycophyllum spp.
Canarium schweinfurthii
Carapa guianensis
Cariniana spp.
Cadrela spp.
Ceiba pentandra
ChIorophora e x c e I s a
Chloroxylon swietenia
Cordia spp.
Cybistax donnelI-smithii
E
F
H
E
E
A
D
E
E
E
E
A
B
H
C
D
H
J
E
C
E
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia melanoxylon
Dalbergia nigra
Dalbergia retusa
Dialyanthera spp.
Diospyros spp. (Asia)
Diospyros spp. (African)
Dipterocarpus spp. (apitong)
Distemonanthus
benthamianus
Dryobalanops lanceolata
Dyera costulata
Endiandra palmerstonii
Entandrophragma spp.
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Eucalyptus spp.
GonystyIus bancanus
Guarea spp.
E
B
C
B
C
E
D
F
H
H
E
A
F
C
See text
E
50
United States
4/4-6/4
T6-D2
T6-D4
TI0-D4S
T6-D2
T6-D2
T2-D4
T3-D2
T6-D2
T6-D2
T6-D2
T6-D2
T2-D4
T2-C2
TI0-D4S
T3-C2
T3-D2
TI0-D4S
TI0-D5S
T6-D2
T3-C2
T6-D2
T6-F3
(modified)
T6-D2
T2-C2
T3-C2
T2-C2
T5-C3
T3-C2
T6-D2
T3-D2
T6-D4
TI0-D4S
TI0-D4S
T6-D2
T2-D4
T6-D4
T3-C2
T6-D2
8/4
T3-DI
T3-D3
T8-D3S
T3-Dl
T3-DI
T2-D3
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-Dl
T3-DI
T2-D3
T2-CI
T8-D3S
T3-CI
T3-DI
T8-D3S
T8-D4S
T3-DI
T3-CI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T2-CI
T3-CI
T2-CI
T3-CI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-D3
T8-D3S
T8-D3S
T3-DI
T2-D3
T3-CI
T3-DI
Table I.
Botanical name
British and Suggested U.S. Kiln
Schedules for Imported Woods (Continued)
British
4/4-6/4
Hura crepitans
Hymenaea courbariI
lntsia bijuga
Khaya ivorensis
Koompassia malaccensis
Lophira alata
Lovoa trichiIloides
Mansonia altissima
Mitragyna ciliata
Mora spp.
Nauclea diderrichii
Nothofagus procera
Ochroma pyramidaIe
Ocotea rodiaei
Ocotea rubra
Parashorea pIicata
Paratecoma peroba
PeItogyne
spp.
Pentacme contorta
Pericopsis elata
Phoebe porosa
Pinus
caribaea
Pinus oocarpa
Prioria copaifera
Pterocarpus angolensis
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Pycnanthus angolensis
Quercus spp.
Shorea spp. (lauan)
Swietenia macrophylla
Tabebuia rosea
Tabebuia spp. (lapacho)
Tarrietia utiIis
Tarrietia (mengkulang)
Tectona grandis
Terminalia ivorensis
Terminalia superba
Tieghemella heckelii
Triplochiton scleroxylon
Turraeanthus africanus
Virola
spp.
Vochysia spp.
E
C
C
F
E
B
E
H
K
B
E
E
H
B
E
E
D
E
E
J
E
H
H
C
J
J
C
B
E
F
E
E
E
D
H
J
J
H
L
E
C
A
51
United States
4/4-6/4
T6-D2
T3-C2
T3-C2
T6-D4
T6-D2
T2-C2
T6-D2
TI0-D4S
TI3-C4S
T2-C2
T6-D2
T6-D2
TI0-D4S
T2-C2
T6-D2
T6-D2
T3-D2
T6-D2
T6-D2
TI0-D5S
T6-D2
TI0-D4S
TI0-D4S
T3-C2
TI0-D5S
TI0-D5S
T3-C2
T2-C2
T6-D2
T6-D4
T6-D2
T6-D2
T6-D2
T3-D2
TI0-D4S
TI0-D5S
TI0-D5S
TI0-D4S
Tl4-C6S
T6-D2
T3-C2
T2-D4
8/4
T3-DI
T3-Cl
T3-CI
T3-D3
T3-Dl
T2-Cl
T3-DI
T8-D3S
TII-C3S
T2-Cl
T3-DI
T3-DI
T8-D3S
T2-Cl
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T8-D4S
T3-Dl
T8-D3S
T8-D3S
T3-Cl
T8-D4S
T8-D4S
T3-CI
T2-Cl
T3-Dl
T3-D3
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T3-DI
T8-D3S
T8-D4S
T8-D4S
T8-D3S
TI2-C5S
T3-DI
T3-CI
T2-D3
Table 2.
Total Shrinkage in Percent
Number
Trees
Albizia falcataria
Albizia lebbek
Albizia adianthifolia
Albizia ferruginea
Alstonia congensis
Anacardium exceIsum
Anisoptera spp.
Antiaris africana
Araucaria angustifolia
Aspidosperma spp.
Astronium graveolens
Astronium fraxinifolium
Berlinia
grandiflora
Brosimum (alicastrum) spp.
Brosimum (utile) spp.
Bursera simaruba
Calophyllum brasiliense
Calycophyllum candidissimum
CalycophylIum spruceanum
Carapa guianensis
Carapa nicaraguensis
Carapa surinamensis
Cariniana brasiIiensis
Cedrela spp.
Ceiba pentandra
Ceiba samauma
Chlorophora excelsa
Chloroxylon swietenia
Cordia alliodora
Cordia goeldiana
Cordia trichotoma
Cybistax donnell-smithii
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia nigra
DaIbergia retusa
Dialyanthera spp.
Dicorynia guianensis
Diospyros (Asia)
Dipterocarpus
spp.
Distemonanthus
benthamianus
DracontomeIon dao
Dryobalanops spp.
FPL 125
Radial
Tangential
2
2
8
I7
2
II
6
3.2
2.9
2.3
2.6
3.4
2.8
3.7
4.4
4.0
3.5
6.2
5.8
6.5
5.4
5.I
5.2
8.8
7.2
7.9
7.4
7
4.1
8.2
5.7
4.8
3.9
2.5
5.4
4.8
4.7
4.0
5.I
4.7
2.9
4.I
2.4
3.7
3.3
5.5
3.5
4.2
4.9
3.I
2.5
3.4
2.7
5.3
5.2
5.0
5.2
3.I
4.l
4.6
7.8
7.I
7.8
4.0
7.9
8.6
8.5
7.8
8.l
8.3
5.4
6.3
6.6
6.6
4.l
7.I
7.I
7.2
6.6
5.2
5.7
7.7
4.3
9.6
8.8
8.5
l0.9
5.2
8.7
l0.2
5
5
4
3
I0
II
2
4
4
4
2
3
23
I0
3
6
I0
2l
3
8
I0
l
l
l
4
5
93
l
2
2
52
Table 2.
Total Shrinkage in Percent (Continued)
Number
Trees
l
3
2
2
6
6
3
I
4
I
3
I
I
9
I9
9
I
I0
I
6
2
I
I
4
3
I
2
I
5
2
4
2
I4
3
8
I9
2
4
3
Endiandra palmerstonii
Entandrophragma angolense
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Eucalyptus diversicolor
Eucalyptus marginata
Euxylophora paraensis
Fitzroya
cupressoides
Gonystylus macrophyllus
Guarea cedrata
Guarea thompsonii
Guibourtia ehie
Guibourtia tessmannii
Hura crepitans
Hymenaea courbariI
lntsia
Juglans neotropica
Khaya spp.
Koompassia excelsa
Lophira alata
Lovoa trichiIioides
Mansonia altissima
Mitragyna ciIiata
Mora exceIsa
Mora gonggrijpii
Mora megistosperma
Nauclea diderrichii
Nothofagus procera
Ochroma pyramidale
Ocotea rodiaei
Ocotea rubra
Oxystigma oxyphyllum
Parashorea plicata
Paratecoma peroba
Peltogyne spp.
Pentacme contorta
Pericopsia elata
Phoebe porosa
Pinus
caribaea
53
Radial
4.5
7.2
5.7
2.4
7.8
6.9
6.0
3.8
3.9
3.5
4.6
3.4
4.9
2.8
4.3
2.6
2.8
4.I
6.3
6.3
4.4
4.6
4.2
6.4
7.I
3.7
5.3
3.5
3.0
8.2
3.5
5.I
4.2
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.2
3.3
6.3
Tangential
8.6
9.0
8.5
4.7
l2.4
9.4
6.7
5.8
8.7
6.0
6.8
8.0
5.9
4.6
8.l
4.5
5.5
5.8
8.0
9.3
7.2
6.4
8.8
9.6
IO. I
7.3
8.4
7.0
7.6
9.0
8.0
l0.7
7.8
6.6
6.7
7.6
6.3
8.2
7.8
Table 2.
Total Shrinkage in Percent (Continued)
Number
Trees
Pinus
oocarpa
Pometia pinnata
Prioria copaifera
Pterocarpus indicus
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Pycnanthus angolensis
Quercus aaata
Quercus copeyonsis
Quercus costaricensis
Quercus eugeniaefolia
Quercus oleoides
Shorea almon
Shorea negrosensis
Shorea polysperma
Shorea squamata
Simarouba amara
Swietenia macrophylla
Tabebuia rosea
Tabebuia (lapacho,
Tarrietia utiIis
Tarrietia javanica
Tectona grandis
Terminalia ivorensis
Terminalia superba
Tetraberlinia tubmaniana
Tieghemella heckelii
Triplochiton scleroxylon
Turraeanthus africanus
Virola
spp.
Vochysia spp.
Vouacapoua americana
3
3
4
6
2
3
3
5
2
I
l
I4
20
I4
I0
8
46
I0
I6
l
l
59
I
I0
I I
l
5
4
I4
I5
3
54
Radial
4.6
5.I
2.3
2.5
3.6
3.9
6.6
9.l
5.0
6.8
5.8
3.2
3.8
4.5
3.5
2.4
3.7
3.5
5.7
2.9
4.2
2.2
3.I
4.4
5.6
5.3
3.I
3.7
4.6
3.4
4.9
Tangentia
7.5
8.9
5.3
4.3
5.3
7.8
l7.7
l7.0
l4.6
l9.9
II.7
7.6
7.6
8.5
8.2
5.4
5.I
6.0
7.8
5.9
9.5
4.0
4.9
5.4
l0.2
7.8
5.3
6.5
8.8
9.2
6.9
I
US
US
AS
HA
AS
US
AF
CS
AS
BR
BR
BR
CS
AF
US
AF
GU
US
GU
CA
VE
AF
BR
SU
BR
US
BR
PA
NI
GU
VE
AP
AS
AS
Origin*
14
17
5
5
5
6
1
6
18
11
6
1
4
5
17
5
1
5
1
18
2
4
2
2
3
5
2
3
1
1
3
2
5
5
No.
trees
63
58
GR
GR
GR
98
123
111
GR
GR
GR
35
45
75
67
69
49
99
97
62
GR
94
72
58
GR
63
84
67
73
75
GR
92
GR
GR
Moisture
content
percent
0.49
.56
.28
.32
.55
.37
.36
.41
.51
.48
.69
.67
.86
.61
.55
.60
.72
.30
.38
.54
.67
.45
.56
.53
.46
.60
.38
.41
.34
.43
.25
.59
.77
.83
S p . g r .l
7,700
9,400
4,490
5,300
9,560
6,500
4,940
5,320
7,550
8,200
12,100
10,930
12,400
9,975
8,300
10,830
16,750
3,300
5,150
10,470
14,290
5,605
11,110
9,480
9,700
9,800
6,730
7,510
5,220
9,500
2,180
10,165
12,920
12,310
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,390
1,550
900
1,080
1,590
1,170
995
1,060
1,430
--1,290
1,900
1,412
1,500
1,370
1,990
560
940
1,570
1,930
963
1,560
1,820
-1,370
1,170
1,310
870
1,480
410
1,284
1,660
1,640
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
11.4
13.3
-5.5
8.3
8.0
4.2
4.1
--- 10.5
7.4
10.9
16.1
11.2
-3.5
-10.6
18.6
5.1
11.4
8.2
-14.6
7.4
7.1
7.4
-1.2
10.5
11.1
9.5
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
Static bending
3,280
4,020
2,480
2,610
5,100
2,960
2,803
2,460
3,780
3,700
5,800
5,540
6,880
4,733
3,380
5,491
- 1,510
-5,160
6,200
3,005
4,930
4,640
4,500
3,990
3,100
3,370
2,760
-1,060
4,915
6,230
6,810
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens in the green condition.)
700
970
350
360
1,020
440
370
400
810
600
1,520
1,580
1,990
1,000
780
1,220
2,090
230
330
1,010
1,630
520
1,060
710
860
1,310
450
550
350
620
220
1,080
1,830
1,850
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,150
1,460
630
800
1,400
770
678
740
1,000
970
1,720
1,870
1,840
1,206
1,110
1,514
-590
- 1,290
1,660
818
1,320
1,120
1,270
1,480
790
990
720
- 350
1,311
1,780
1,770
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
* Key
to
code
letters:
AF,
Africa;
AS,
Southeast
Asia;
AU,
Australia;
BR,
Brazil;
CA,
Central
America;
CH,
Chile;
CR,
Costa
Rica;
CS,
Central
& South America; EC, Ecuador; GU, Guatemala; GY, Guyana (British Guiana); HA, Hawaii; HO, Honduras; IN, India; NI, Nicaragua; PA, Panama;
PE, Peru; PH, Philippine Islands; SM, South America; SU, Surinam; US, United States; and VE, Venezuela.
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharum
Albizia falcataria
Albizia falcataria
Albizia lebbek
Alnus rubra
Alstonia boonei
Anacardium excelsum
Anisoptera spp. (palosapis)
Araucaria angustifolia
Aspidosperme peroba
Aspidosperme (peroba rosa)
Astronium graveolens
Berlinia grandiflora
Betula alleghaniesis
Brachystegia nigerica
Brosimum alicastrum
Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba
Calophyllum brasiliense rekoi
Calycophyllum candidissimum
Canarium schweinfurthii
Carapa guianensis
Carapa surinamensis
Cariniana brasiliensis
Carya illinoensis
Cedrela angustifolia
Cedrela oaxacensis
Cedrela odorata
Cedrela odorata
Ceiba pentandra
Chlorophora excelsa
Chloroxylon swietenia
Chloroxylon swietenia
Botanical name
Table 3.
Cordia alliodora
Cordia goeldiana
Cordia trichotoma
Cornus florida
Cybistax donnell-smithii
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia sp.
Dicorynia guianensis
Diospyros philippensis
Diospyros pilosanthera
Diospyros virginiana
Dipterocarpus spp. (apitong)
Dracontomelon dao
Dracontomelon mangiferum
Dryobalanopa lanceolata
Entandrophragma angolense
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Entandrophragma utile
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri)
Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah)
Euxylophora paraensis
Praxinus americana
Gonystylus bancanus
Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum
Guarea cedrata
Guarea thompsonii
Hura crepitans
Hymenaea courbaril
Intsia bijuga
Intsia palembanica
Juglans regia
Botanical name
Table 3.
CA
BR
BR
US
HO
AS
AS
AS
BR
SU
AS
AS
US
AS
AS
AS
AS
AF
AF
AF
GU
AU
AU
BR
US
AS
AF
AF
AF
CS
CS
AS
AS
AS
13
2
1
5
4
5
5
5
1
2
3
1
5
57
2
7
5
3
5
1+
1
26
28
3
23
9
31
2
4
7
9
14
5
10
Origin No.
trees
106
53
38
62
59
GR
GR
GR
GR
79
GR
GR
58
GR
GR
GR
64
74
62
50
226
GR
GR
59
42
37
56
99
52
65
59
GR
GR
GR
Moisture
content
percent
.44
.52
.50
.64
.39
.75
.65
.69
.80
.60
.80
.81
.64
.59
.54
.46
.64
.50
.60
.57
.31
.70
.67
.70
.55
.59
.45
.48
.56
.38
.72
.70
.68
.47
S p . g r .1
8,840
10,540
9,600
8,800
7,710
9,190
11,170
10,220
14,140
11,410
10,690
10,610
10,000
9,220
6,730
8,540
12,160
7,125
10,165
10,830
5,030
10,600
9,880
13,200
9,600
9,785
7,125
10,260
11,780
6,130
12,950
15,000
12,850
8,710
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,260
1,830
1,420
1,180
980
1,190
1,200
1,260
1,840
1,840
1,640
2,010
1,370
1,790
1,350
1,400
1,701
1,070
1,487
1,487
610
2,070
1,480
2,040
1,460
1,573
931
1,380
1,648
1,010
1,820
2,150
2,020
1,310
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
9.5
11.2
12.7
21.0
6.9
11.6
14.1
11.9
13.2
12.0
--13.0
- - - 12.8
7.4
10.5
10.3
---10.6
16.6
9.0
8.6
12.1
12.8
6.8
15.7
-12.8
10.4
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
Static bending.
4,000
4,940
4,110
3,640
3,630
4,530
5,440
5,000
5,510
5,590
- 4,620
4,170
4,410
4,610
4,300
5,971
3,533
5,011
5,318
-5,250
5,190
6,440
3,990
5,395
3,379
4,934
6,010
2,650
5,800
8,040
6,770
4,010
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens in the green condition.)
790
1,030
880
1,410
660
1,270
1,520
1,380
2,440
1,100
1,740
1,490
1,280
800
860
750
980
770
1,020
1,080
350
1,360
1,285
1,610
960
640
620
870
950
430
2,030
1,700
1,390
670
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,130
1,080
1,050
1,520
1,050
1,400
1,630
1,410
2,360
1,340
1,450
- 1,470
1,040
1,170
1,140
1,038
942
1,250
1,382
-1,335
1,325
1,520
1,380
994
977
1,382
1,346
810
1,770
1,830
1,560
1,060
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
Khaya anthotheca
Khaya anthotheca
Khaya ivorensis
Khaya grandifoliola
Koompassia malaccensis
Lovoa trichilioides
Mansonia altissima
Mitragyna sp.
Nauclea diderrichii
Ocotea rodiaei
Ocotea rubra
Parashorea plicata
Parashorea plicata
Parashorea plicata
Paratecoma peroba
Peltogyne confertiflora
Peltogyne densiflora
Peltogyne pubescens
Peltogyne venosa
Pentacme contorta
Pericopsis elata
Phoebe porosa
Pinus caribaea
Pinus elliottii
Pinus monticola
Pinus oocarpa
Pinus palustris
Pometia pinnata
Pometia tomentosa
Populus deltoides
Prioria copaifera
Pterocarpus angolensis
Pterocarpus indicus
Quercus alba
Quercus oleoides
Quercus virginiana
Botanical name
Table 3.
AF
AF
AF
AF
AS
AF
AF
AF
AF
GY
SM
AS
AS
AS
BR
BR
BR
GY
SU
AS
AF
BR
CA
US
US
HO
US
AS
AS
US
PA
AF
AS
US
GU
US
4
5
11
5
5
2
1
1
4
5
5
5
5
22
3
1
1
1
3
19
6
3
19
30
5
3
44
5
7
5
4
3
15
20
1
5
61
54
64
54
GR
61
44
101
75
42
89
70
66
GR
GR
GR
64
42
71
GR
62
113
37
GR
54
41
63
GR
GR
111
102
64
GR
68
38
50
Moisture
content
Origin No.
trees percent
.46
.47
.43
.57
.72
.48
.57
.48
.67
.83
.51
.43
.46
.49
.63
.77
.75
.92
.67
.43
.66
.52
.68
.56
.36
.55
.54
.57
.56
.37
.40
.59
.53
.60
.91
.81
1
sp. gr.
7,315
8,265
7,400
9,500
14,530
7,790
12,350
7,505
13,015
19,400
7,620
7,790
8,360
9,100
13,400
20,000
16,200
21,100
13,690
7,500
14,820
7,700
9,980
8,900
5,200
7,970
8,700
9,650
9,020
5,300
5,930
11,685
10,700
8,300
11,490
11,900
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,156
1,198
1,160
1,412
2,410
1,134
1,498
1,263
1,840
2,980
1,420
1,198
1,412
1,550
--2,610
4,260
2,000
1,380
1,766
1,080
1,690
1,580
1,170
1,740
1,600
1,620
1,700
1,010
950
1,177
1,470
1,250
1,800
1,580
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
8.5
9.8
8.3
9.7
--16.4
6.9
10.0
13.0
4.8
6.8
7.0
---17.0
16.4
14.8
-19.5
8.9
12.0
9.5
5.0
6.9
8.9
--7.3
5.4
12.4
-11.6
-12.3
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
Static bending
3,533
3,955
3,500
4,992
7,930
4,147
6,144
3,802
7,190
10,360
3,630
4,118
4,435
4,400
6,300
8,900
9,020
10,970
7,020
3,700
7,488
3,380
4,780
4,340
2,650
3,690
4,300
4,560
4,160
2,280
2,590
5,654
5,570
3,560
-5,430
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens in the green condition.)
730
730
640
1,170
1,480
690
1,210
700
1,520
2,190
500
580
660
730
1,430
2,180
2,090
3,290
1,810
580
1,600
880
820
630
310
580
590
930
840
340
450
1,300
950
1,060
2,010
1,880
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,056
1,118
930
1,540
--1,602
-1,672
1,480
840
810
906
1,050
1,690
2,160
1,640
1,830
1,640
910
1,672
1,170
1,200
1,000
640
1,040
1,040
1,170
1,170
680
860
1,593
1,220
1,250
-2,210
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
No.
trees
3
6
12
2
5
15
5
5
6
4
19
5
14
4
2
4
1
3
5
77
3
10
3
7
134
4
8
2
8
3
2
5
1
3
Origin
VE
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
SU
US
GU
VE
AF
CS
PA
CS
SM
AF
IN
AF
US
AF
CA
SU
BR
CA
GU
SU
GR
GR
GR
56
73
GR
84
69
GR
GR
GR
64
GR
70
69
81
85
131
60
67
41
62
31
47
67
44
105
76
75
50
94
200
148
48
Moisture
content
percent
.48
.49
.41
.43
.39
.44
.39
.50
.41
.47
.46
.40
.41
.36
.38
.33
.39
.40
.69
.45
.80
.51
.92
.56
.57
.54
.12
.33
.44
.42
.42
.35
.40
.79
s p . g r .1
8,100
6,600
7,500
8,645
6,935
7,700
6,650
9,405
6,900
7,980
8,100
6,840
7,300
7,125
6,310
3,500
6,180
6,400
11,115
9,280
20,080
10,650
22,850
9,690
10,980
10,355
5,000
5,130
6,200
6,340
5,600
5,750
6,850
15,850
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
910
660
1,440
1,498
1,081
1,380
1,038
1,498
1,200
1,330
1,540
1,124
1,400
1,252
1,140
700
1,510
1,160
1,605
1,280
2,120
1,470
3,060
1,305
1,510
1,273
1,040
706
1,470
1,740
1,640
1,050
1,260
2,620
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
10.4
--8.8
6.3
-6.2
0.5
---5.9
-6.8
4.5
1.8
-3.8
12.1
9.6
27.3
11.2
25.6
9.6
10.8
13.5
5.3
6.2
5.3
4.6
4.1
4.6
-14.5
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
S t a t i c bending
3,760
3,270
3,750
4,454
3,763
3,700
3,322
4,723
3,360
4,010
3,940
3,523
3,470
3,677
2,970
1,810
-2,560
5,386
4,510
7,680
4,930
10,660
5,088
5,470
5,088
2,220
2,573
3,050
3,100
2,390
2,800
-9,170
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens in the green condition.)
1Specific gravity based on volume when green and weight when ovendry.
Samanea saman
Samanea saman
Shorea almon
Shorea dasyphylla
Shorea leptocladus
Shorea negrosensis
Shorea parvifolia
Shorea pauciflora
Shorea philippinensis
Shorea polita
Shorea polysperma
Shorea smithiana
Shorea squamata
Shorea waltonii
Simarouba amara
Simarouba glauca
Spondias mombin
Spondias mombin
Sterculia oblonga
Swietenia macrophylla
Tabebuia heterotricha
Tabebuia rosea
Tabebuia serratifolia
Tarrietia utilia
Tectona grandis
Tieghemella hecke1i
Tilia americana
Triplochiton scleroxylon
Virola koschnyi
Viro1a melinonii
Viro1a surinamensis
Vochysia hondurensis
Vochysia hondurensis
Vouacapoua americana
Botanical name
Table 3.
750
990
500
560
450
570
440
700
530
710
620
440
480
460
390
240
460
530
880
700
2,530
890
2,970
1,050
1,070
930
250
420
440
400
320
460
570
1,610
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,100
1,240
840
-748
930
713
1,109
920
1,000
940
607
770
968
790
710
-770
924
1,310
2,140
1,240
2,050
1,276
1,290
1,364
600
669
660
730
720
700
-1,510
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharum
Afzelia sp.
Albizia falcataria
Albizia falcataria
Albizia lebbek
Albizia sp.
Alnus rubra
Alstonia boonei
Anacardium excelsum
Anisoptera spp. (palosapis)
Antiaris africana
Araucaria angustifolia
Aspidosperma (peroba rosa)
Astronium graveolens
Berlinia grandiflora
Betula alleghaniensis
Brachystegia nigerica
Brachystegia spiciformis
Brachystegia sp.
Brosimum costaricanum
Brosimum
Brosimum utile
Brosimum utile
Brosimum utile
Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba
Calophyllum brasiliense rekoi
Calycophyllum candidissimum
Calycophyllum spruceanum
Canarium schweinfurthii
Carapa guianensis
Carapa nicaraguensis
Carapa surinamensis
Cariniana brasiliensis
Cariniana
Carya illinoensis
Cedrela angustifolia
Cedrela oaxacensis
Botanical name
Table 4.
US
US
AF
AS
HA
AS
AF
US
AF
CS
AS
AF
BR
BR
CS
AF
US
AF
AF
AF
CR
VE
EC
EC
EC
us
CR
CA
VE
PE
AF
BR
EC
SU
BR
BR
US
BR
PA
Origin
14
17
3+
4
5
5
1+
6
1
6
16
1+
11
1
4
5
17
5
8
7
1
1
1
1
3
5
1
18
2
1
4
2
3
2
3
1
5
2
3
12
12
12
12
12
8
12
12
12
12
12
12
15
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
14
12
12
13
12
15
12
12
12
12
Moisture
No. c o n t e n t
trees percent
0.49
.56
.71
.28
.32
.55
.63
.37
.36
.41
.51
.39
.48
.67
.86
.61
.55
.60
.71
.71
.64
.65
.36
.39
.41
.30
.32
.54
.67
.76
.45
.56
.42
.53
.46
.58
.60
.38
.41
S p . g r1
13,400
15,800
17,195
6,960
8,400
14,430
14,440
9,800
8,170
7,960
12,780
8,170
11,800
12,160
17,070
14,535
16,600
14,440
17,290
17,290
16,070
17,630
- - - 4,800
5,560
14,760
22,300
-9,595
15,620
- 15,450
11,800
13,110
13,700
11,300
11,530
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,640
1,830
2,033
1,000
1,280
1,830
1,659
1,380
1,284
1,280
1,820
1,124
-1,540
2,170
1,680
2,010
1,637
2,087
1,937
1,850
2,350
- - - 740
1,080
1,820
2,270
-1,263
1,850
- 2,140
- 1,500
1,730
1,420
1,440
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
Static bending
12.5
16.5
24.1
-8.7
7.7
9.3
8.4
6.5
5.6
- 4.9
- 9.2
10.4
13.3
20.8
11.8
16.2
15.1
10.9
15.6
- -- 3.0
2.0
13.2
27.0
- 5.8
13.4
- 14.7
- 13.8
13.8
12.5
9.4
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
6,540
7,830
11,030
3,840
4,490
8,770
9,005
5,820
5,030
4,530
6,630
5,213
5,800
7,920
10,560
7,382
8,170
7,939
9,542
9,571
- 10,240
4,490
- 6,310
3,080
- 8,060
9,670
9,280
5,914
7,900
6,240
8,340
6,100
6,820
7,850
6,010
6,210
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens at a moisture content of 12 or as
indicated.)
950
1,450
1,770
330
450
1,250
1,390
590
410
470
920
510
-1,730
2,230
1,360
1,260
1,430
1,830
1,970
1,710
2,000
350
530
500
270
250
1,210
1,940
2,550
670
1,220
1,240
1,040
-1,020
1,820
570
600
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,850
2,330
2,121
940
1,130
1,850
2,121
1,080
845
900
1,410
1,012
- 2,490
2,060
1,954
1,880
2,341
2,086
2,103
-1,990
770
- - 800
- 1,910
2,120
- 1,505
1,680
- 1,340
-1,790
2,080
1,200
1,100
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Sheer
parallel
to grain
Cedrela odorata
Ceiba pentandra
Ceiba samauma
Chlorophora excelsa
Chloroxylon swietenia
Cordia alliodora
Cordia goeldiana
Cybistax donnell-smithii
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia
Dicorynia guianensis
Dicorynia guianensis
Diospyros crassiflora
Diospyros mespiliformis
Diospyros pilosanthera
Diospyros virginiana
Dipterocarpus spp. (apitong)
Distemonanthus benthamianus
Dracontomelon dao
Dracontomelon mangiferum
Dryobalanops lanceolata
Entandrophragma angolense
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Entandrophragma utile
Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri)
Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah)
Euxylophora paraensis
Fitzroya cupressoides
Fraxinus americana
Gonystylus bancanus
Gosweilerodendron balsamiferum
Guarea cedrata
Guara thompsonii
Hopea odorata
Hura crepitans
Hymenaea courbaril
Intsia bijuga
Intsia palembanica
Juglans regia
Botanical name
Table 4.
AS
AS
AS
CS
AS
AF
AF
AF
AS
CS
US
NI
VE
PE
AF
AS
CA
BR
HO
AS
AS
BR
SU
SU
AF
AF
AS
US
AS
AF
AS
AS
AS
AF
AF
AF
AU
AU
BR
CH
Origin
1
3
1
2+
5
13
2
4
5
5
1
2
3
6
1+
1
5
53
1+
2
7
5
3
5
4+
21
28
3
1
23
9
36
2
4
5
7
9
14
5
10
12
12
13
12
15
12
12
12
12
10
12
12
15
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
15
8
Moisture
No. content
trees percent
.34
.25
.50
.59
.85
.44
.52
.39
.75
.65
.80
.60
.68
.90
.71
.81
.64
.59
.60
.54
.46
.64
.50
.60
.57
.70
.67
.70
.38
.55
.59
.45
.48
.56
.64
.38
.72
.70
.68
.47
S p . g r1
7,860
4,330
-12,445
16,500
12,060
14,700
10,900
16,920
15,360
18,970
17,390
18,680
26,030
16,150
20,500
17,700
16,210
14,915
14,650
11,800
17,385
10,640
15,295
14,250
19,200
16,200
16,200
8,670
15,400
18,430
11,210
14,155
14,725
13,740
8,610
19,400
21,300
16,810
13,090
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,010
540
- 1,455
2,020
1,490
2,090
1,220
1,780
1,740
1,880
2,190
2,130
2,739
1,659
2,630
2,010
2,350
1,766
1,820
1,660
2,022
1,338
1,819
1,669
2,760
1,880
2,180
1,170
1,770
2,172
1,177
1,466
1,680
1,670
1,190
2,170
2,610
2,230
1,540
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
Static bending
5.6
2.8
-9.0
11.2
9.7
15.9
10.3
13.1
12.1
-15.2
4.4
28.1
18.2
-15.4
- 12.8
- -15.5
7.8
15.7
10.1
--13.0
-17.6
17.0
10.8
13.5
12.1
11.7
6.9
17.6
--9.8
Work to
Maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
4,450
2,380
- 7,594
10,030
6,280
7,240
6,140
9,220
8,990
9,600
8,770
-12,816
8,170
10,680
9,170
8,540
7,978
7,200
6,700
9,696
6,288
8,160
8,410
10,400
8,870
9,050
5,150
7,410
10,080
6,019
7,411
8,333
6,710
4,700
9,680
11,700
8,440
7,320
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength Properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens at a moisture content of 12 or as
indicated.)
500
240
740
1,260
2,600
790
1,190
700
2,630
1,560
2,720
1,290
1,690
3,220
2,130
3,890
2,300
1,200
1,230
1,130
830
1,230
940
1,510
1,260
2,030
1,915
1,820
560
1,320
1,300
740
900
1,100
1,460
530
2,440
1,910
1,510
860
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,320
-550
-1,804
2,510
1,220
1,410
1,710
2,090
2,000
2,110
1,660
1,690
2,473
2,446
-2,160
1,690
1,857
1,520
1,600
1,707
1,602
2,288
2,156
2,135
2,185
2,160
1,190
1,950
1,514
1,487
1,962
1,725
1,610
1,020
2,470
2,630
--
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
Khaya anthotheca
Khaya anthotheca
Khaya grandifoliola
Khaya ivorensis
Lophira alata
Lovoa trichilioides
Mansonia altissima
Mitragyna sp.
Mora excelsa
Mora gonggrijpii
Mora megistosperma
Nauclea diderrichii
Nothofagus procera
Ocotea rodiaei
Ocotea rubra
Ocotea rubra
Ocotea rodiaei
Parashorea plicata
Parashorea
plicata
Parashorea plicata
Paratecoma peroba
Paratecoma peroba
Peltogyne densiflora
Peltogyne pubescens
Peltogyne venosa
Pentacme contorta
Pericopsis elata
Phoebe porosa
Pinus caribaea
Pinus elliottii
Pinus oocarpa
Pinus palustris
Pometia pinnata
Pometia
tomentosa
Prioria copaifara
Pseudosindora palustris
Pterocarpus angolensis
Pterocarpus indicus
Pterocarpus indicus
Quercus aaata
Botanical name
Table 4.
4
5
5
11
10
2
1
1
24
9
1
4
12
3
3
5
2
5
5
22
3
1
3
1
3
18
6
3
14
30
3
44
6
7
4
7
3
8
14
3
Origin
AF
AF
AF
AF
AF
AF
AF
AF
SM
GY
EC
AF
CH
GY
SU
SM
GY
AS
AS
AS
BR
BR
BR
GY
SU
AS
AF
BR
CA
US
HO
US
AS
AS
PA
AS
AF
AS
AS
CR
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
15
12
15
12
12
12
15
12
13
14
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
Moisture
content
No.
trees percent
.46
.47
.57
.43
.94
.48
.57
.48
.89
.92
.60
.67
.42
.83
.61
.51
.88
.43
.46
.49
.63
.67
.75
.92
.67
.43
.66
.52
.68
.56
.55
.54
.57
.56
.40
.59
.59
.52
.53
.71
S p . g r1
11,400
11,495
13,395
10,700
32,654
11,305
16,815
11,780
23,100
25,600
-16,530
10,360
-13,100
10,210
25,500
10,355
11,115
13,400
16,000
15,400
20,100
25,100
19,220
11,700
18,430
12,100
15,230
15,900
14,870
14,700
15,400
13,900
8,730
17,195
13,015
13,540
13,800
18,140
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,402
1,423
1,648
1,390
-1,434
1,691
1,445
2,970
3,190
- 2,076
1,080
-1,890
1,790
3,700
1,380
1,509
1,860
-1,760
2,550
3,640
2,270
1,690
1,937
1,410
2,030
2,060
2,250
1,990
2,080
2,090
1,150
1,969
1,305
1,690
1,770
2,920
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
9.8
9.8
11.8
8.3
-- 18.2
9.8
21.4
24.7
- 11.7
12.8
-9.1
6.4
22.0
9.8
10.2
--10.2
18.6
24.9
17.6
-18.5
11.6
15.3
12.6
10.9
11.8
--7.2
13.4
11.1
--16.2
Work to
maximum
1oad
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
Static bending
6,173
6,394
7,680
6,460
13,198
6,710
8,160
6,470
12,200
13,610
5,730
9,984
4,760
14,940
- 5,620
12,920
6,336
6,730
7,000
7,520
8,920
10,770
13,270
10,320
6,070
9,936
6,650
8,000
9,100
7,680
8,440
8,670
7,700
4,490
8,880
7,949
7,790
8,450
--
Maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
paralle1 to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods And selected species of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens at a moisture content of 12 or as
indicated.)
860
930
1,370
830
-940
1,290
780
2,460
2,950
1,150
1,630
690
2,650
900
640
2,630
590
710
880
-1,600
2,140
3,640
1,860
700
1,560
950
1,150
1,010
910
870
1,470
1,240
610
1,410
1,480
1,020
1,060
2,390
lbs.
Hardness
side
1,593
1,778
2,209
1,500
- 1,276
1,971
- 2,550
2,640
-2,182
1,500
2,830
1,290
960
1,830
1,074
1,250
1,370
-2,140
2,150
2,070
2,220
1,200
2,086
1,480
1,870
1,730
1,720
1,500
1,950
2,040
1,040
2,033
1,998
1,580
1,630
--
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
US
CR
CR
US
US
US
PH
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
PH
AS
AS
AS
SU
SU
VE
AF
CS
HO
PA
CA
SM
AF
HO
IN
AF
AF
AF
US
AF
AF
CA
SU
BR
CA
SU
Quercus alba
Quercus costaricensis
Quercus eugeniaefolia
Quercus virginiana
Quercus spp. (red)
Quercus spp. (white)
Shorea almon (lavan)
Shorea dasyphylla (meranti)
Shorea leptocladus (seraya)
Shorea negrosensis (lavan)
Shorea parvifolia (seraya)
Shorea pauciflora (seraya)
Shorea polyaperma (lavan)
Shorea smithiana (seraya)
Shorea squamata (lavan)
Shorea waltonii (seraya)
Simarouba amara
Simarouba amara
Spondias mombin
Sterculia oblonga
Swietenia macrophylla
Tabebuia guayacan
Tabebuia heterotricha
Tabebuia rosea
Tabebuia serratifolia
Tarrietia utilis
Tectona gradis
Tectona gradis
Terminalia ivorensis
Tetraberlinia tubmaniana
Tieghemella heckelii
Tilia americana
Triplochiton scleroxylon
Turraeanthus africanus
Virola koschnyi
Virola melinonii
Virola surinamensis
Vochysis hondurensis
Vouacapoua americana
20
2
1
5
70
55
12
2
5
15
5
5
17
5
12
4
3
2
3
5
77
3
3
9
3
7
3
56
6+
11
4
8
2
3
8
3
2
5
3
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
15
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
Moisture
No. content
trees percent
.60
.61
.67
.81
.57
.59
.44
.43
.39
.44
.39
.50
.46
.40
.4l
.36
.37
.38
.40
.69
.45
.85
.80
.52
.92
.56
.56
.57
.48
.60
.54
.32
.33
.51
.44
.42
.42
.35
.79
S p . g r1
1Specific gravity based on volume when green and weight when ovendry.
Origin
15,200
17,560
16,410
18,400
14,600
13,700
11,300
12,065
9,310
11,300
9,500
12,635
12,900
10,260
11,100
9,785
9,020
8,930
8,810
17,005
11,640
27,150
22,630
13,780
26,310
12,350
13,310
12,780
11,495
16,750
13,965
8,700
7,505
12,730
10,800
10,070
10,950
7,980
21,640
Modulus
of
rupture
psi
1,780
2,640
2,840
1,980
1,830
1,590
1,670
1,626
1,295
1,630
1,220
1,766
1,810
1,412
1,660
1,359
1,290
1,240
1,280
2,119
1,510
2,970
2,320
1,600
3,310
1,477
1,390
1,590
1,445
2,210
1,573
1,460
856
1,487
1,720
1,980
2,040
1,200
2,530
Modulus
of
elasticity
1,000
psi
14.8
16.8
14.1
18.9
14.3
13.7
-11.7
8.4
-8.5
13.8
-8.8
-10.2
5.1
5.8
6.3
15.0
7.9
22.9
26.0
12.5
23.0
9.9
10.3
10.1
7.9
-10.7
7.2
6.9
9.4
8.1
7.8
10.0
7.1
17.0
Work to
maximum
load
In.-Lb./
cu. in.
Static bending
7,440
--8,900
7,120
7,000
5,750
6,970
5,155
5,890
5,923
7,363
6,580
6,307
5,620
5,501
-4,840
4,410
9,360
6,630
12,470
10,930
7,340
13,420
7,200
6,770
7,110
6,653
9,010
7,421
4,730
3,926
7,152
5,720
5,280
5,140
4,420
11,480
maximum
crushing
strength
psi
Compression
parallel to
grain
Strength properties of certain imported tropical woods and selected species, of the
U.S. (Results based on small, clear specimens at a moisture content of 12 or as
indicated.)
Botanical name
Table 4.
1,360
1,570
2,170
2,680
1,310
1,340
590
630
510
680
460
780
770
540
590
490
430
440
520
1,120
810
3,480
3,010
960
3,670
1,100
1,110
1,030
840
-1,110
410
430
1,080
640
600
510
770
1,730
lbs.
Hardness
side
2,000
--2,660
1,840
1,880
1,090
-1,162
1,220
968
1,461
1,290
-1,090
1,030
830
1,160
1,030
1,593
1,290
2,710
2,280
1,450
2,070
1,619
1,600
1,480
1,540
-1,830
990
986
2,033
1,300
1,220
980
1,070
1,090
Maximum
shearing
strength
psi
Shear
parallel
to grain
of five foreign woods tested at the
Forest Products Laboratory, U.S.
Forest Products Laboratory Report
No. R1139.
Hess, Robert W., Wangaard, Frederick F., and
Dickinson, Fred E.
1950. Properties and uses of tropical woods,
II. Tropical Woods 97. School of Forestry, Yale University.
Hoheisel, Hannes, and Arroyo, Joel
1966. Resultados preliminares de las
propiedades fisicas y mecanicas de
30 especies de la Guyana Venezolana.
Instituto Forestal Latino-Americano
de Investigacion y Capacitacion,
Merida, Venezuela. Boletin No. 20-21,
Abril-Agosto.
Instituto Forestal: Chile
1967. Summary of the mechanical and physical
properties of timbers grown in Chile.
Nota Tec. Instituto Forestal Chile No.
8.
Instituto Interamerican de Ciencias Agricolas
(IICA).
1968. Report on a wood testing program carried out for UNDP Project 192, Survey and development of selected forest
areas, Costa Rica. IICA, Turrialba,
Costa Rica.
Kukachka, B. F.
1959. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King).
U.S. Forest Products Laboratory Report No. 2167.
, McClay, T. A., and Beltranena M.,
Emilio.
1968. Propiedades seleccionadas de 52
especies de madera del Departmento
del Peten, Guatemala. Proyecto de
Evaluation Forestal. FAO - FYDEP,
Boletin Numero 2, Abril.
Kynoch, William, and Norton, Newell A.
1938. Mechanical properties of certain tropical woods, chiefly from South America.
University of Michigan School of Forestry and Conservation Bulletin No. 7.
Lauricio, F. M., and Bellosillo, S. B.
1966. Mechanical and related properties of
Philippine woods. Fifth Progress Report. The Lumberman (Philippines)
Volume 12, No. 5, August-September,
Lavers, Gwendoline M.
1967. The strength properties of timbers.
REFERENCES
Bolza, E., and Kloot, N. H.
1963. The mechanical properties of 174 Australian timbers. Division of Forest
Products Technical Paper No, 25,
CSIRO, Melbourne.
, and Kloot, N. H.
1966. The mechanical properties of 81 New
Guinea timbers. Division of Forest
Products Technical Paper No, 41,
CSIRO, Melbourne.
British Forest Products Research Laboratory
1956. A handbook of hardwoods. British Department of Science and Industrial
Research, H. M. Stationery Office,
London.
Brotero, Frederico Abranches
1956. Tabelas de resultadas obtidos para
madeiras nacionais. Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Boletim No. 31.
Desch, H. E.
1941. Dipterocarp timbers of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Records No.
14.
1941.
Manual of Malayan timbers. Malayan
Forest Records No. 15, Volumes 1
and 2.
Dickinson, Fred E., Hess, Robert W., and
Wangaard, Frederick F.
1949. Properties and uses of tropical woods,
I. Tropical Woods 95.
Gerhards, C. C.
1966. Physical and mechanical properties of
Molucca albizia. U.S. Forest Service
Research Paper FPL 55, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis.
Gottwald, H., Knigge, W., Noack, D., Willeitner,
H., and Sachtler, M.
1968. Anatomical and physical-technological
investigations on four Liberian wood
species. German Forestry Mission to
Liberia.
Great Britain Forest Products Research Laboratory
1959. Kiln drying schedules. F.P.R.L. Leaflet
No. 42. Her Majesty’s Stationery
Office, London.
Heck, G. E.
1937. Average strength and related properties
63
(Great Britain) Ministry of Technology, Forest Products Research Bulletin
No. 50.
Limaye, V. D.
1933. The physical and mechanical properties
of woods grown in India. Indian Forest
Records XVIII, Part X.
Markwardt, L. J., and Wilson, T.R.C.
1935. Strength and related properties of woods
grown in the United States. U.S. Dep.
Agr., Technical Bulletin No. 479.
Rasmussen, E. F.
1961. Dry kiln operator’s manual. U.S. Dep.
Agr., Agr. Handbook 188.
Sallenave, P.
1955. Proprietes physiques et mecaniques
des bois tropicaus de L’Union Francaise, Centre Technique Forestier
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Sekhar, A. C., and Rawat, B. S.
1966. Physical and mechanical properties of
teak from different localities in India
and neighboring areas. Indian Forest
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U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory
1955. Wood handbook. U.S. Dep. Agr., Agr.
Handbook 72.
Van der Slooten, Harry J., Corothie, Harry,
and Arroyo P., Joel
1962. The anatomical, physical, and mecnanical properties of five Brazilian wood
species. Instituto Forestal LatinoAmerican de Investigacion y Capacitacion, Merida, Venezuela.
Wangaard, Frederick F., and Muschler, Arthur F.
1952. Properties and uses of tropical woods,
III. Tropical Woods 98. School of
Forestry, Yale University.
, Koehler, Arthur, and Muschler, Arthur
F.
1954. Properties and uses of tropical woods,
IV. Tropical Woods 99. School of
Forestry, Yale University.
, Stern, William L., and Goodrich, Stanley L.
1955. Properties and uses of tropical woods,
V. Tropical Woods 103. School of Forestry, Yale University.
Wellwood, R. W.
1946. The physical-mechanical properties of
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FPL 125
Vink, A. T.
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(Third Edition) Surinam Forest Service, Paramaribo.
64
INDEX
OF COMMON NAMES OF SPECIES LISTED HEREIN
AND THEIR BOTANICAL EQUIVALENTS
Cedro macho (Carapa spp.)
Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra)
Chenchen (Antiaris africana & welwitschii)
Cocal (Brosimum spp.) utile group
ciIiata)
Abura (Mitragyna
Acapu (Vouacapoua americana)
Aceituno (Simarouba amara)
“African mahogany” (Khaya spp.)
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)
CourbariI (Hymenaea courbariI)
Crabwood (Carapa spp.)
Cuangare (Dialyanthera spp.)
Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata)
Agba (GossweiIerodendron baIsamiferum)
Aiele (Canarium schweinfurthii)
Albarco (Cariniana spp.)
Albizia (Albizia spp.)
Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides)
Dao (Dracontomelon spp.)
Degame (Calycophyllum candidissimum)
Alstonia (Alstonia boonei & congensis)
Determa (Ocotea rubra)
Amaranth (Peltogyne spp.)
Andiroba (Carapa spp.)
Angelique (Dicorynia guianensis)
Ebony, African (Diospyros spp.)
Apamate (Tabebuia rosea)
Apitong (Dipterocarpus spp.)
Ehie (Guibourtia ehie)
Ekki (Lophira alata)
Emeri (Terminalia ivorensis)
Ebony, East Indian (Diospyros spp.)
Edinam (Entandrophragma angolense)
Avodire (Turraeanthus africanus)
Ayan (Distemonanthus
Encino (Quercus spp.)
Espave (Anacardium excelsum)
Framire (Terminalia ivorensis)
benthamianus)
Azobe (Lophira alata)
Bacu (Cariniana spp.)
Bagtikan (Parashorea plicata)
Freijo (Cordia spp.)
Fuma (Ceiba pentandra)
Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)
Banak (Virola spp.)
Basra locus (Dicorynia guianensis)
B a t a i (Albizia
Gola (Tetraberlinia tubmaniana)
Goncalo alves (Astronium spp.)
Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei)
Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)
falcataria)
Benge (Guibourtia arnoldiana)
Berlinia
(Berlinia spp.)
Guapinol (Hymenaea courbariI)
Bete (Mansonia altissima)
Bilinga (Nauclea diderrichii)
Guarea (Guarea spp.)
Gumbo- Iimbo (Bursera simaruba)
Blackwood, African (Dalbergia melanoxylon)
Bosse (Guarea cedrata & thompsonii)
Gurjun (Dipterocarpus spp.)
ldigbo (Terminalia
ivorensis)
Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.)
Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum)
Ilomba (Pycanthus angolensis)
Capomo (Brosimum - Alicastrum group)
Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea)
Ipe (Tabebuia --Lapacho group)
l p i l (Intsia spp.)
Cativo (Prioria
lmbuia (Phoebe porosa)
Iroko (Chlorophora spp.)
copaifera)
JabiIlo (Hura
Cedro (Cedrela spp.)
65
crepitans)
M u n i n g a (Pterocarpus
nigra)
J a c a r a n d a (Dalbergia
marginata)
J a r r a h (Eucalyptus
indicus)
N a r r a (Pterocarpus
costulata)
J e l u t o n g (Dyera
angolensis)
megistosperma)
N a t o (Mora
J e q u i t i b a (Cariniana
spp.)
N i a n g o n (Tarrietia
K a m b a l a (Chlorophora
spp.)
N o g a l (Juglans
utilis)
spp.)
K a p u r (DryobaIanops
spp.)
O a k , t r o p i c a l (Quercus
spp.)
K a r r i
diversicolor )
O b e c h e
scleroxylon)
(Eucalyptus
K a s a i (Pometia
spp.)
malaccensis .)
K e m p a s (Koompassia
(Dipterocarpus
spp.)
Omu
(Terminalia
Kosipo
(Entandrophragma
-
candollei)
diderrichii)
palmerstonii)
(Endiandra
soyauxii)
P a d a u k , A f r i c a n (Pterocarpus
superba)
candollei)
spp.)
P a l o s a p i s (Anisoptera
angustifolia)
" P a r a n a p i n e " (Araucaria
K r a b a k (Anisoptera spp.)
L a p a c h o (Tabebuia
spp.)
(Entandrophragma
Orientalwood
elata)
K o k r o d u a (Pericopsis
"Korina"
klaineana)
O p e p e (Nauclea
lebbek)
group)
oblonga)
O k o k o (Sterculia
O k w e n (Brachystegia
spp.)
K o k k o (Albizia
AIicastrum
O k o u m e (Aucoumea
spp.)
K e v a z i n g o (Guibourtia
K h a y a (Khaya
oocarpa)
-
O j o c h e (Brosimum
spp.)
K e l a d a n (Dryobalanops
Keruing
(Triplochiton
O c o t e p i n e (Pinus
Lapacho
group)
paraensis)
P a u a m a r e l l o (Euxylophora
L a u a n , D a r k r e d (Shorea spp.)
P e r o b a d e c a m p o s (Paratecoma
Lauan,
P e r o b a r o s a (Aspidosperma
Light red
(Shorea,
Parashorea, P e n t a c m e s p p .)
rubra)
L o u r o v e r m e l h o (Ocotea
L o v o a
Lumbayau
crepitans)
donnell-smithii)
P u r p l e h e a r t (Peltogyne
samauma)
L u p u n a (Ceiba
spp.)
M a h o g a n y (Swietenia
macrophylla)
R a m i n (Gonystylus spp.)
M a k o r e (Tieghemella
heckelii)
R a m o n (Brosimum
Malugai
altissima)
M a n s o n i a (Mansonia
M a r i a
brasiIiense)
(Calophyllum
amara)
M a r u p a (Simarouba
M a y f l o w e r (Tabebuia
rosea)
M e n k u l a n g (Tarrietia
spp.)
M e r s a w a (Anisoptera
M o r a (Mora
Movingui
FPL 125
R o b l e (Quercus
procera)
spp.)
spp.)
nigra)
R o s e w o o d , I n d i a n (Dalbergia
latifolia)
samauma)
(Triplochiton
scleroxylon)
S a n J u a n (Vochysia spp.)
spp.)
gonggrijpii)
(Distemonanthus
group)
R o s e w o o d , B r a z i I i a n (Dalbergia
S a m b a
excelsa)
Morabukea (Mora
Alicastrum
R e d p e r o b a (Aspidosperma
Samauma (Ceiba
spp.)
M e r b a u (Intsia
-
R a u l i (Nothofagus
spp.)
(Pometia
caribaea)
P r i m a v e r a (Cybistax
spp.)
(Tarrietia
Pentacme)
oocarpa)
P i n e , o c o t e (Pinus
P o s s u m w o o d (Hura
trichilioides)
(Lovoa
Parashorea,
P i n e , C a r i b b e a n (Pinus
superba)
L i m b a (Terminalia
mahogany"
(Shorea,
sanctum)
L i g n u m v i t a e (Guaiacum
spp.)
P e t e r e b i (Cordia
"PhiIippine
L a u r e l (C o r d i a s p p .)
peroba)
spp.)
benthamianus)
S a n d e (Brosimum
-
Santa
(Calophyllum
Sapele
66
Maria
Utile group)
(Entandrophragma
brasiliense)
cylindricum)
S a t i n w o o d , E a s t I n d i a n (Chloroxylon
S i p o
(Entandrophragma
Siris
(Albizia
utile)
lebbek)
Spanish-cedar
spp.)
(Cedrela
oxyphyllum)
T c h i t o l a (Oxystigma
grandis)
T e a k (Tectona
angolense)
T l a m a (Entandrophragma
trichiIioides)
Tigerwood (Lovoa
balsamiferum)
T o i a (Gossweilerodendron
U t i l e
utile)
(Entandrophragma
spp.)
" V i r o l a " (Dialyanthera
W a l n u t , T r o p i c a l (Juqlans
W a n a (Ocotea
W a w a
spp.)
rubra)
scleroxylon)
(Triplochiton
utilis)
W h i s m o r e (Tarrietia
Y a n g
swietenia)
plicata)
S e r a y a , w h i t e (Parashorea
(Dipterocarpus
spp.)
y e l l o w s t e r c u l i a (Sterculia
Y e m e r i (Vochysia
oblonga)
spp.)
67